Numerical Simulation of Temperature Distribution during Electric Field Activated Sintering

A basic model for electric field activated sintering was presented by electromagnet theory,and the equations coupling electric field and temperature field were set up based on the theories of microscale heat transfer and electromagnetics.The thermoelectric phenomena in specimen,female die,punch during electric field activated sintering were simulated using the software FEMLAB.Numerical calculations were based on finite element analysis and the coupling of PDEs and electromagnetic modules.And the current density,resistance heating and temperature distributions in the specimen,female die,punch and their evolution during electric field sintering were obtained.The high heating rate and the obvious effect of current density on resistance heating,temperature distribution in specimen,female die,punch were found.The temperature of lower punch was measured using a thermocouple.The experimental results are in good agreement with those resulted from FEM,which indicates that FEM is valid analysis method to simulate temperature field in electric field activated sintering.