Zircon based ceramics by colloidal processing

Zircon is an excellent raw material to elaborate ceramics with good thermo- chemical properties. Also, mullite-zirconia materials can be prepared by re action sintering of zircon-alumina mixtures. Concentrated aqueous alumina-z ircon suspensions were prepared to study the effect of the slip properties on the density and microstructure of the compacts obtained by slip casting and pressure filtration at 8 MPa. The effect of the degree of dispersion an d solid volume concentration on the viscosity of the suspension was studied . Optimization of the amount of polyacrylate dispersant added and pH of the suspension improved the solid loading and consequently the green and sinte red properties of the cast samples. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd and Techn a S.r.l. All rights reserved.