PREVENTING SEGREGATION DURING CENTRIFUGAL CONSOLIDATION OF PARTICULATE SUSPENSIONS - PARTICLE DRAFTING

Dilute, dispersed, multicomponent suspensions containing Ce-ZrO2, Al2O 3, and varying Al2O3-platelet contents were centrifugally consolidated , Despite the favorable conditions for segregation, phase and size seg regation did not occur in the highest Al2O3-platelet content suspensio n. The suspension properties did not consist of agglomeration, high so lids fractions, or high suspension viscosities typically attributed wi th segregation prevention. Thus, a new mechanism is suggested, conside ring the effects of hydrodynamic particle interactions (interference d rag or ''drafting'') on particle arrangement during consolidation, Par ticle drafting is proposed and supported as a mechanism for preventing segregation, and the importance of hydrodynamic particle interactions in ceramic processing is discussed.