Effect of polymer molecular weight variations on PZT slip for tape casting

Ceramic slips were formulated based on the PZT/plasticized-polymer system. The total volume of polymer in slip was held constant, while the relative a mount of plasticizer and binder was varied. Experiments were performed to e lucidate the effects of the polymer molecular weight and its end-to-end dis tance on the properties of green sheet as well as on the rheological proper ties of casting slips. Tapes(thickness = 200 mu m) were cast from these sli ps and their properties were evaluated. The properties of polymers such as their average molecular weight(end-to-end distance) and molecular weight di stribution had a dramatic effect both on slip rheology and green sheet prop erties. The optimum ratio of PVB to DPB for the PZT tape casting process wa s 75 : 25. The properties of green sheet agreed well to viscosity behavior of PZT slip. And the burn-out behaviors of each green sheet were quite diff erent. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.