▪ I. sinter, n.
(ˈsɪntə(r))
[a. G. sinter, the equivalent of Eng. sinder cinder.]
1. A hard incrustation or deposit formed upon rocks, etc., by precipitation from mineral waters; esp. siliceous sinter, geyserite.
| 1780 Von Troil's Iceland 344 The porous crustated stone, or sinter, which is found in the moor surrounding the border of the bason. 1796 Kirwan Elem. Min. (ed. 2) II. 279 The massive are often called Cobaltic Sinters. 1830 Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 213 The hot springs..precipitate vast quantities of siliceous sinter. 1857 J. D. Dana Min. (1862) 249 Iron sinter is a yellowish or brownish hydrous arsenate of the peroxyd of iron. 1881 Geikie in Macm. Mag. Oct. 432 The tendency of each geysir to build up a cylinder of sinter around its vent. |
2. sinter coal [ad. G. sinterkohle], cherry coal.
| 1854 Ronalds & Richardson Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 105 Sinter coal approaches nearest to caking coal, but the fusion of the separate pieces into one is not so perfect. |
3. Material which has been subjected to sintering; spec. iron ore prepared for smelting by sintering the powdered material, usu. together with coke and other materials; (see also quot. 1958).
| 1909 Chem. Abstr. III. 167 Process of treating metal-bearing ore in a uniformly formed mass of fine particles containing combustible elements to form relatively large agglomerated bodies of sinter by internal combustion. 1926 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. CXIV. 61 Both the briquettes and the sinter are crushed to a somewhat coarser size than the lump ore before charging in the furnace. 1956 Planning 9 Apr. 64 Sinter has other advantages—it may rid the furnace of unwanted sulphur and volatile constituents and..increase furnace output while reducing coke consumption. 1958 A. D. Merriman Dict. Metall. 323/2 Sinter, a term used in reference to the solid waste from smelting or refining operations. It is also used to denote a product of a sintering operation. 1973 Times 12 Feb. (Suppl.) p. ii/4 The mixture of foreign and Frodingham ores will produce a sinter containing about 54 per cent iron. |
4. Special Comb.: sinter plant, a furnace for sintering iron ore.
| 1938 R. H. Sweetser Blast Furnace Practice i. 57 Three types of sinter plant were erected in this country..all based on the principle of down-draft suction, ignition on the top of a mixture of flue dust, and fine iron pyrites cinder. 1980 Times 29 Feb. 2 The coke ovens at Redcar..are part of the steel complex, along with a sinter plant. |
▪ II. sinter, v.
(ˈsɪntə(r))
[f. the n.]
a. intr. Of particles or particulate material: to coalesce into a solid mass under the influence of heat without liquefaction. Also with together. b. trans. To cause to coalesce in this way.
| 1871 [implied at sintering vbl. n.]. 1903 Amer. Chem. Jrnl. XXIX. 487. On heating, it [sc. methylmercapto⁓thymine] sintered at about 225°. 1907 Trans. Inst. Mining & Metall. XVI. 321 The formation of ferrous silicate aids..in sintering the material. 1938 R. H. Sweetser Blast Furnace Practice i. 58 This plant sinters red ore, fines and flue dust. 1948 Electronic Engin. XX. 68 To the surface thus formed a nickel powder is sintered to provide a base for brazing materials. 1953 Sci. News XXIX. 43 Many small metal components are now made by sintering metal powders, which have previously been pressed into the desired shape. 1973 Sci. Amer. Oct. 129/2 At high temperatures the effect is even stronger: metal powders sinter together under pressure. 1976 Ceramurgia Internat. II. 90/2 Attempts were made to sinter material which was dried at 125°C and not calcined. |