SLIP-CASTING OF ALUMINA BODIES WITH DIFFERENTIAL POROSITIES

Rheological and sedimentation studies were used to determine floc structure in aqueous alumina suspensions in which the degree of flocculation was varied by modifying the pH of the suspensions. A slip-casting technique was developed to allow fabrication of alumina bodies with differential porosities by varying the degree of flocculation of the suspensions during the forming period. The porosity and density of the pre-sintered bodies were determined. The results show that the conditions of the starting suspensions influence the density of the bodies and that their variation during the slip-casting process enable samples to be fabricated with differential porosity.