The strength of ceramic materials is dependent upon the dynamic mechanical properties of the powdered material and the dispersed slurry. Of particular importance is the particle size distribution of the ceramic powder and rheological properties of the resulting suspension. The particle size defines the time and temperature required to attain full density during sintering, finer particles require shorter sintering times.
Click here to contact usA direct relationship also exists between particle size and the pore size observed in the green body. Large particles tend to pack inefficiently, leading to large pore sizes. These pores are found to remain during sintering, thus reducing the strength of the final product. Packing can be improved by reducing the particle size. The use of polydisperse ceramic powders can also be advantageous, as the small particles present in these powders will fill the voids between the larger particles, thus reducing the overall pore size. The presence of large agglomerates must be avoided as these can lead to defect formation during sintering, as agglomerated grains tend to grow more quickly than well-dispersed particles. Measuring rheological properties of the bulk material in suspension is often used as an indicator of the quality of dispersion and the existence of agglomerates.
Laser particle sizing and rheology measurements are sensitive to the presence of large particles and agglomerates. Also by measuring zeta potential the optimum dispersion stability conditions can be determined for a given ceramic suspension.
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