Monday word: sinter

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

sinter (sĭn′tər)

noun
1. A chemical sediment or crust, such as silica deposited by a mineral spring.
2. A mass formed by sintering.

verb
To form a coherent mass by heating without melting.

Selective Laser Sintering is a technique that uses a laser to sinter powdered material (nylon, alumide, steel, etc.).

I learned the word while at Chazen with friends:  the medium for a sculpture from Xu Bing was listed as "laser-sintered polyamide".
Here is an article on the impressive, much larger (and non-sintered) installation related to the small sculptures I saw.



Etymology:  German sinter, slag or dross.

Comments

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

So ... laster < las(er) + (sin)ter? Huh.

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

hmm...nope, looks like that was a typo on my part...twice. (precision without accuracy...) I'll update.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Ah. Gotcha.

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

This is a fantastic word in my opinion, relevant and well explained by your personal experience and photo. Thank you!