The word "sinter" refers to a type of rock or mineral deposit formed by the process of sintering. The phonetic transcription of the word is /ˈsɪntər/, with the stress on the first syllable. The spelling of the word is derived from the Old High German word "sintar" or the Middle Dutch word "sinter", meaning dross or slag. The word is also used in the context of metallurgy, where sintering is used to create solid objects from metal powders by heating and pressing them together.
Sinter, as a verb, typically refers to the process of forming a solid mass (commonly called a "sinter") from powdered or compacted particles of a substance, without fully melting it. This process involves subjecting the particles to high temperatures below their melting point, causing them to bond together. Sintering is commonly used in ceramics, metallurgy, and materials science to create materials with desirable properties, such as increased density, enhanced strength, and improved porosity.
As a noun, "sinter" denotes the resulting solid mass or sediment created during the sintering process. Due to its unique properties, sinter finds application in various industries. In metallurgy, for instance, sinter is employed to produce iron ore pellets or agglomerates, which serve as a feedstock material for blast furnaces. In the field of geology, sinter refers to a type of chemical sediment formed near hot springs or geysers, characterized by a porous or cellular structure.
In summary, sintering is a process that involves the heating of powdered or compacted materials below their melting point to fuse the particles together and form a solid mass known as sinter. The resulting material can possess properties such as increased density, strength, and porosity, making it useful in different industries such as ceramics, metallurgy, and geology.
Compact incrustations from silicious or calcareous springs, as silicious-sinter and calc-sinter,-sinter is distinguished from tuff or tufa, which is open and porous, by having a hard ringing sound when struck by the hammer; pearl-sinter, a variety of opal of a pearly lustre.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "sinter" has its roots in the Old High German word "sintri" which means "ore-bearing rock". It is derived from the Middle High German word "sinter", meaning "cinder" or "dross". This word then finds its origin in the Old High German word "sindar" which means "dross of metal". The word "sinter" eventually entered the English language in the mid-19th century, originally referring to materials formed by heating ores, rocks, or minerals until they fuse together. Over time, the term has expanded to encompass various processes involving the heating and consolidation of powdered materials.