EXPERIMENTAL-ANALYSIS OF 3-DIMENSIONAL CO NSOLIDATION BEHAVIOR IN SLIP CASTING

Consolidation behavior in slip casting of a well-dispersed alumina slu rry was experimentally analyzed, using wall-sealed, bottom-sealed and unsealed cylindrical plaster molds, Solid front (the interface between the consolidated layer and slurry in the cavity) and liquid front (th e interface between the dry and saturated part in the plaster) were si multaneously measured. Both fronts grew not in one dimension but in th ree dimensions, depending on the type of mold. There was a similarity in the growth patterns between solid and liquid fronts. It was found t hat three dimensional suction potential of the plaster mold caused the curved growth patterns, The region deposited at early stages of casti ng yielded a higher bulk density than the region deposited at late sta ges of casting. The mean bulk density and homogeneity of cast bodies w ere also dependent an the type of mold.