The extrusion of fiber dispersion ceramic green bodies and their dewax behavior

An application of a new forming process to ceramic composite green bodies i s studied. Ceramic slurries dispersed with reinforcing fibers are prepared with a low melting point wax. After the wax content of the consolidated com posite bodies is reduced to suitable levels by the capillary suction absorb ing method, extrusion is attempted. No damage of the fiber shape is observe d and the fibers are oriented uniaxially to the extruded direction, because of the deformation occurring by fluidization of the wax at elevated temper ature. In the green bodies reinforced with SiC fiber (chopped Nicalon), the linear shrinkage parallel to extrusion direction is small compared to that in the perpendicular direction. The strength of green and calcined specime n is evaluated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.