Metal particle shape: A practical perspective

Abstract

The choice of appropriate processing conditions in powder metallurgy and the achievement of the required properties for the final metal components greatly depend on the shape of the solid phase. Powder sinterability, packing density, compressibility, mechanical behavior, reactivity and flowability, among the others, are influenced by particle shape. The present paper offers an informative overview on the role of particle shape in powder metallurgy and provides the basic definitions, qualitative shape descriptors and semi-quantitative shape factors that are essential to better understand the effect of metal particle shape in everyday industrial practice.