Zircon based ceramics by colloidal processing

Zircon is an excellent raw material to elaborate ceramics with good thermo-chemical properties. Also, mullite–zirconia materials can be prepared by reaction sintering of zircon–alumina mixtures. Concentrated aqueous alumina–zircon suspensions were prepared to study the effect of the slip properties on the density and microstructure of the compacts obtained by slip casting and pressure filtration at 8 MPa. The effect of the degree of dispersion and solid volume concentration on the viscosity of the suspension was studied. Optimization of the amount of polyacrylate dispersant added and pH of the suspension improved the solid loading and consequently the green and sintered properties of the cast samples.