Formulation of Additives for Water-Based Tape Casting of Ceramics

The effect of additives type and content on rheological properties of water-based suspensions for tape casting was investigated. An aqueous suspension of a ceramic powder (feldspar, K2O-Al2O3-6SiO2) was used. Sodium alginate, as a binder, poly(ethyleneglycol), as a plasticizer, and sodium poly(methylmetacrylate), as a dispersant, were added. Viscosity and sedimentation behavior were analyzed for aqueous suspensions as a function of additives. After casting and solvent evaporation, the green densities of the samples were measured. The microstructures of green and sintered samples were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.