“…Then, velocity and the related kinetic energy of the molten particles in SPS are not as high as those in conventional APS, resulting in less densification driving force coming from the impact of the molten particles on the substrate. Second, the smaller particle size and lower velocity result in lower values of the Stokes number S t , 24,25) , where ρ p , d p, and v p are the density, diameter, and velocity of the molten particles, and μ g and l BL are the viscosity of the gas and the thickness of the boundary flow layer along the substrate surface, respectively. If S t is lower than 1, this means that the particles cannot easily penetrate the boundary flow layer, which is the compressed zone with high pressure just over the substrate surface.…”