REAL-TIME MONITORING OF CAKE THICKNESS DURING SLIP CASTING

A test system was developed to measure cake growth for an alumina slip using a uniaxial, planar slip, casting assembly. This technique utili zes transducers configured in a pulse-echo mode to monitor cake thickn ess as a function of casting time. Studies were performed to determine the effect of varying slip properties on the attenuation of ultrasoun d. The ultrasonic velocity was independent of solid loading, phi(s) = 0.27-0.43, and slip viscosity, eta = 85-300 mPa s. In addition, transd ucers with frequencies varying from 0.5 to 5 MHz were studied to deter mine the best frequency for monitoring the casting kinetics. A transdu cer frequency of 1 MHz was found to give the best peak resolution, and thus was best for monitoring cake thickness.