COLLOIDAL PROCESSING OF SOL-SPRAYED CERAMIC PARTICULATE COMPOSITES

Sol-gel based preparative procedures are capable of reducing the probl ems of particle size distribution, purity and homogeneity of the phase s in ceramic particulate composites. However, the tendency for agglome ration of these powders creates serious problems for processing to sha pes. The present work is a critical study of the preparation of 10% ce ria-alumina composite particulates, by a mixed sol-spray technique fol lowed by pressure filtration for final consolidation. The powder was a lso compacted by ceramic uniaxial dry pressing for comparison purposes . The details of powder preparation, powder characteristics, filtratio n conditions, compaction and sintering behaviour and the final sintere d microstructural features of the compacts have been studied and evalu ated.