Monte Carlo Simulation and Experimental Study for Sintering and Grain Growth of Alumina

The sintering and grain growth behavior of alumina with different grain sizes was investigated experimentally and by Monte Carlo simulations. The densification and grain growth of alumina particles increased with increasing sintering temperature. This effect was more significant for fine alumina particles. The grain size in the sintered body obtained from fine particles was larger than that obtained from coarse particles. These experimental results were successfully reproduced by Monte Carlo simulations. The relationship between simulation parameters (frequency factors for pore sink, high diffusion, and grain growth), which were introduced in the simulation by adapting the experimental results, and the coefficients of diffusion (lattice diffusion, surface diffusion, and grain boundary diffusion) of alumina were also discussed in this study.