Plastic clay-like flow stress of saturated advanced ceramic powder compacts

The flow stresses of saturated, consolidated alumina powder compacts and a commercial throwing clay were measured and compared. The flow stresses of certain saturated alumina powder compacts formed by consolidating salt coagulated slurries were found to be almost identical to the flow stress of the commercial throwing clay. The effect of volume fraction of particles, particle size, interparticle attraction, and consolidation pressure on the flow stress were systematically investigated. Plastic behavior and flow stresses, controlled by changing the forces between the particles, may be useful in developing low cost plastic forming processes for the production of advanced ceramic components.