Oxidation-Induced Sintering: An Innovative Method for Manufacturing Porous Ceramics

We report for the first time a novel method of manufacturing macroporous ceramics by oxidation-induced sintering (OIS) of porous compacts composed of Ti powders and fugitive poreformers. Using this novel manufacturing method, novel porous TiO2 ceramics can be fabricated over a wide range of porosity at a relatively faster heating rate (4 degrees C/min) and shorter sintering periods (<= 4 h) at 1450 degrees C. The porous ceramics were subsequently characterized by SEM, XRD, and compressive strength measurements. The detailed microstructure study showed that the solid network in these solids is interconnected.