ZETA-POTENTIAL MODIFICATION OF CERAMIC POWDERS USING ZIRCONIUM HYDROGEL

Zirconium hydrogel has recently been shown to improve the stability of ceramic dispersions of commercial importance for casting ceramic bodi es. In this research the colloidal aspects of such dispersions have be en investigated. The hydrogel aided both the dispersion and stabilizat ion of ceramic powders in water and behaved as a binder in casting. Th e addition of the zirconium hydrogel to zirconia, alumina and titania dispersions modified their zeta potentials. This modification has impo rtant implications for mixing or blending of different powders when ma king complex ceramics. This paper discusses the mechanisms that underl ie these effects and explains how an inorganic gel can act as a disper sing aid, binder and sintering aid.