Thermal decomposition of monosaccharides derivatives applied in ceramic gelcasting process investigated by the coupled DTA/TG/MS analysis

The paper reports the decomposition of saccharides derivatives in comparison to commercial substances during the process of binder removal from ceramic samples. The saccharides derivatives are polymers synthesized from glucose and fructose with acryloyl group in the sugar molecule. The synthesized compounds played the role of binder in the shaping of ceramic powders by gelcasting method. The method belongs to colloidal processes and allows to produce ceramic elements of complicated geometry. As ceramic powder Al2O3 was used. The thermal analysis have been done on apparatus coupled with mass spectrometer. MS analysis showed what types of gasses are released to the atmosphere during the thermal decomposition of polymers. The obtained results showed important differences in decomposition of polymers obtained from commercial acrylamide, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide in comparison to synthesized glucose and fructose derivatives. The measurements allowed to establish the sintering program of the green ceramic samples and evaluate whether harmful NO (x) gases are released to the atmosphere.