Paper number 744

EFFECTS OF ETHANOL AND POLYELECTROLYTE ON THE PROCESSING OF SICW/AL2O3 COMPOSITES

M. Zhang1 and M.J. Crimp1

1Department of Materials Science and Mechanics Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1226 USA

Summary By manipulating the interparticle attractive and repulsive forces in colloidal suspensions of ceramic particulates, mixtures of different dispersing abilities were obtained. Changing the concentration of the ionic species, pH, polyelectrolyte and the solution (electrolyte, ethanol, or a mixture of electrolyte and ethanol), alters the net interparticle force. The zeta potentials of single component suspensions of varying concentration of ionic species, polyelectrolyte addition, and solution was calculated and related to the observed suspension behavior. SiCw/Al203 suspensions were slip cast, cold-isostatically pressed and sintered at 1600°C in flowing nitrogen. Sintered densities were measured and the microstructures examined in a scanning electron microscope.
Keywords alumina, silicon carbide, whisker, composite, suspension, ethanol, polyelectrolyte.

Theme : Ceramic Matrix and C/C Composites ; Processing and Forming

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