GELCASTING - FROM LABORATORY DEVELOPMENT TOWARD INDUSTRIAL-PRODUCTION

Gelcasting, a ceramic forming process, was developed to overcome some of the limitations of other complex-shape forming techniques such as i njection molding and slip casting. In gelcasting, a concentrated slurr y of ceramic powder in a solution of organic monomers is poured into a mold and then polymerized in situ to form a green body, in the shape of the mold cavity. Thus, it is a combination of polymer chemistry wit h slip processing and represents minimal departure from standard ceram ic processing. The simplicity of the process has attracted industrial partners and by collaboration between them and the developers, the pro cess is being advanced from the laboratory toward industrial productio n. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.