Investigation of the mechanisms of compaction of CoSb$_{3}$ skutterudite nanopowders under field-activated sintering

We calculated the compaction parameters of CoSb$_{3}$ thermoelectric powders under field-activated sintering. The values of the creep activation energy, sensitivity to the strain rate, and the complex parameter of the material characterizing the state are obtained. The compaction of the powders is due to the mechanisms of grain sliding in the sample. We performed the computer simulation of the sintering process by the finite element method. The change in the dimensions of the sample is calculated using the creep deformation model. The simulation results correspond to the experimental data.