1. Consider a liquid phase sintering material containing inert second-phase spheres. Sketch and explain the growth shapes of a grain around a sphere for a dihedral angle between them of 0, 90 and 160°, respectively.
2. Consider two liquid phase sintered compacts with the same liquid volume fraction but with different grain sizes. Describe the possible microstructural evolution expected during annealing of the compacts in contact at the liquid phase sintering temperature. Assume that the compacts are fully dense.