Based on the sintering conference held at the Pennsylvania State University, USA, this text presents advances in the application of sintering to the most important industrial materials. It offers results on both solid-state and microphase sintering as well as microstructure evolution, and introduces new applications, processes, materials and solutions to technical problems.

Randall M. German is the Brush Chair Professor in Materials of the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Gary L. Messing is Director of the Particulate Materials Center and Professor of Ceramic Science and Engineering, Robert G. Cornwall is Associate Director of the Particulate Materials Center all at The Pennsylvania State University.

Neck growth; small particle sintering; cermets and non-oxide ceramics; liquid phase sintering; alumina-sintering and grain growth; grain growth; novel and reactive sintering processes; constrained densification.