What does sintering mean?
Sintering is the heating of a powdered material, especially a metal or ceramic, to a temperature below its melting point so that the particles bond into a solid structure. It is widely used in powder metallurgy, ceramics, and additive manufacturing. Unlike melting, which turns a material entirely into liquid, sintering preserves the material’s basic chemical and physical identity while producing a dense or porous finished form. The word can function as a verb, as in “The powder is sintered under pressure,” and as a noun naming the process itself. In technical contexts, sintering can involve pressure, an atmosphere that prevents oxidation, or controlled heating rates. The resulting object may range from dense engineering components to porous filters and ceramic materials. The term is valuable because it identifies a distinctive manufacturing process in which heat creates cohesion without complete fusion.
To bond a powdered material by heating it below its melting point until the particles adhere.
"The manufacturer sintered the metal powder into a single component."
Chiefly used in metallurgy, ceramics, and materials science.
The process of forming a solid mass by heating a powdered material below its melting point.
"The strength of the alloy depends partly on the sintering process."
Usually an uncountable technical noun.
Sintering joins materials with heat without fully melting them—a clever way to turn loose powder into a solid object.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sintering come from?
The word comes from the German verb sintern, meaning to form a solid mass of slag or dross by heating. English adopted it in a technical context for the similar process of heating powdered minerals or metals until their particles adhere. The modern technical sense developed with advances in metallurgy and ceramics.
Related word forms
How sintering is actually used
The term is primarily technical and is especially common in metallurgy, ceramics, and additive manufacturing. It describes bonding without complete liquefaction, distinguishing the process from ordinary melting.