Engineering surface and electrophoretic deposition of SiC powder

Shape SiC tubes were prepared by electrophoresis process. The anodic deposi ts with thickness from 0.35 to 1.10 mm were attained using low electric fie ld from alcoholic slurry. The SiC dispersion in ethanol with solid loading of 10 vol.% was used. Slurry dispersion degree is a function of SiC surface oxidation degree. High surface oxidation degree give rises a more stable s uspension in alcoholic medium. The engineering of the surface allowed creat ing appreciable amount of free silanol groups (Si-OH). Otherwise, absence o f free silanol groups on the surface leads to non-significant or unstable d eposit, Very high dispersion degree was attained by addition of a recent co mmercial deflocculant based on acrylic acid-acrylate copolymer. The enhance d characteristics of the dispersion and particle charge with addition of de flocculating agent are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.