5. Glossary

birefringence; birefringence

A medium whose refractive index is a function of the direction of polarization of the light wave (i.e. it depends on the crystallographic direction).

sintering; sintering

Part manufacturing process involving heating compacted powder without melting it. Under the effect of heat, the grains weld together, consolidating the part. In favorable cases, the porosity between the grains is eliminated (densification), which can also be accompanied by grain coarsening.

agglomerate; agglomerate

A set of powder particles with relatively weak bonds and limited cohesion.

aggregate; agrégat

Set of powder particles with relatively strong bonds and high cohesion (presence of extensive grain boundaries between...