Colloidal processing of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate ceramics

Well-dispersed aqueous slurries of fine ceramic powders with high solids lo ading are often required for various shape forming techniques such as slip and tape casting in order to fabricate advanced ceramics with a dense and u niform microstructure. Colloidal processing of lead lanthanum zirconate tit anate (PLZT) powders was conducted at various pH using ammonium polymethacr ylate as a dispersant. Suspensions were characterized by viscosity and zeta -potential measurements. The effect of pH on polymer adsorption and the rhe ological behavior of the slurries were investigated and stabilization mecha nisms discussed. Through optimization of the dispersant concentration and p H, solids loadings of the suspensions up to 50 vol.% with a relatively low viscosity were obtained. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.