When the deformation response durin

When the deformation response during the stress plateau is displayed in the form of creep curves (Fig. 3f), we observe that the strain rate of the compacts decreases from an initial value around 103/s to a level in the order of 105/s as densification proceeds. At any given relative porosity, higher strain rates are observed in compacts subjected to higher stresses, which explains the stronger densification of samples at elevated pressures.