PLASTIC SHAPING OF AQUEOUS ALUMINA SUSPENSIONS WITH SUCROSE AND MALTODEXTRIN ADDITIVES

Traditional methods for the shape-forming of engineering ceramics enta il plastic deformation of powder slurries containing hazardous organic liquids as suspending media. Replacing these organic with aqueous med ia requires the development of environmentally benign, water-soluble a dditives which serve as plasticizers and binders. Fundamental studies were performed with aqueous suspensions of colloidal alpha-Al2O3 to ev aluate the role of sucrose and maltodextrin on viscosity, sedimentatio n, and filtration characteristics, plastic flow behavior of filter cak es, and sinterability. Maltodextrin systems exhibited superior results , including filtration to high packing densities and clay-like plastic ity with minimal cracking.