LPS assumes that the dissolution pr

LPS assumes that the dissolution process continues during Stage II driven by the pressure intensification at the particle-particle contact points thus causing a modification of the particles shape as in classic sintering of ceramics (see the sketch in Figure 10(a, b)). This would lead to a physical shrinkage of the system and to densification. As a matter of fact, atoms would move from the neck centre (Figure 10(c)) towards the neck external border, under the pressure-induced solubility gradient forcing the particle centres closer. The mass transport due to the combination of preferential dissolution and reprecipitation allows LPS and densification.