Process control and optimized preparation of porous alumina ceramics by starch consolidation casting

This work concerns details of porosity and pore size control in starch consolidation casting of alumina ceramics using corn starch. In particular, the influence of the solids loading (68-78 wt.% alumina in suspensions with nominal starch contents of 20-50 vol.%) on the porosity, bulk density and shrinkage of alumina ceramics is studied. The results indicate a linear decrease of the linear shrinkage and the bulk density (and a corresponding increase in porosity) as the alumina concentration increases, with slopes that are independent of the starch content. The pore size is characterized via microscopic image analysis, the pore throat size via mercury porosimetry. Relations between the volumetric shrinkage, porosity and the volume fractions of starch and water in the suspensions are discussed, and a new concept, called affine limit porosity is proposed to explain the apparently paradoxical finding that the porosity increases with increasing alumina content in the suspension. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.