Packing density and consolidation energy of flocculated aqueous SiC suspension

The applied pressure and suspension height during consolidation were continuously recorded with an aqueous 30 vol.% suspension of 0.8 μm SiC particles at pH 3.0 (near the isoelectric point) using a developed pressure filtration apparatus. The consolidation to the solid content above 46 vol.% was accompanied by a rapid increase of the pressure. The maximum packing density, where an average distance between two SiC particles was close to 0, reached 62–63% at 19 MPa of applied pressure. The consolidation energy was 1.6–1.8 J/g-SiC. The influence of the addition of polyacrylic acid (dispersant) on the consolidation energy of the SiC suspension and the strain relaxation of the consolidated SiC compact after the pressure release, are also reported.