Comparison of dispersants performance in slip casting of cordierite-based glass-ceramics

In this paper, four different dispersants (Tiron, Duramax D-3021, Targon 1128, and Dolapix CE 64) were selected as processing aids and their effects on electrophoretic properties of cordierite and glass powders, on the theological behaviour of the suspensions and on the microstructures of the slip-cast green bodies were compared. Dolapix CE 64 rendered the particles the highest absolute values of zeta potential, the lowest relatively viscosities to the suspensions, and gave rise to the densest and more homogeneous green microstructures, compared with the other three dispersants. The differences are probably due to different thickness of the adsorbed layers and/or different conformations of the dispersants at the surface of the particles caused by differences in molecular weights as well as hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratios. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.