What does sinter mean?
To sinter is to join particles of a material into a solid mass by heating them below the point of complete melting. The process is especially important in powder metallurgy, where finely ground metal powders are shaped and heated to create dense components for industrial and engineering uses. Sintered materials are valued for their strength, precise shape, and reduced waste compared with machining from solid metal. The word can also be used more generally for the joining or hardening of materials through heat. As a noun, “sinter” refers to a solid mass produced by this process, especially in metallurgy. Although the vocabulary is specialized, the underlying idea is familiar: heat can make separate particles adhere and form a stronger whole.
To heat a powdered material, especially metal, until it partially fuses and forms a solid mass without completely melting.
"The technicians sintered the compacted powder in a furnace."
Chiefly used in metallurgy, ceramics, and materials science.
To cause material to become united or bonded by heating.
"The mixture sintered into a hard ceramic component."
This broader sense is less common than the technical metallurgical sense.
A solid mass formed by heating a powdered material, especially metal, until the particles partially fuse.
"The sinter was removed from the furnace after it had cooled."
A technical term used mainly in metallurgy and related fields.
The plural is rare and is mainly encountered in specialized technical writing.
"The factory tested several sinters for thermal resistance."
Sintering makes a loose powder become a solid object without melting it completely—a key technique in manufacturing precise metal parts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sinter come from?
The word comes from German, where sintern means “to slag” or “to form a slag,” and Sinter refers to a metallic slag or sintered mass. English borrowed the term in connection with the heating and fusion of metallic ores and, later, powdered metals. Its development reflects a long industrial use of heat to convert loose mineral or metallic material into a usable solid.
How sinter is actually used
Chiefly technical, especially used in metallurgy and materials science. In general use, the term can describe any process in which particles or fragments join together through heat.