Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.83, No.3, 518-522, 2000
X-ray computed tomography and mercury porosimetry for evaluation of density evolution and porosity distribution
X-ray computed tomography (CT) and mercury porosimetry were combined to connect density gradients and the distribution of open porosity in a sintered compact. CT clearly showed that open porosity follows the initial distribution of low-density zones, Mercury porosimetry detected three distinct levels of porosity. Microstructural examination correlated the porosity level with the coordination of (i) two to three or (ii) multiple grains around pores. This combination of techniques provides a novel tool for the study of pore and density-gradient evolution during sintering.