Gel-casting of β-TCP using epoxy resin as a gelling agent

A water-soluble epoxy resin combined with a polyamine hardener is applied for gel-casting of β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics. The influence of dispersant and the solids loading on the rheological behavior of β-TCP slurries are investigated. When the concentration of the slurries increases from 40 vol.% to 55 vol.%, the compressive strength of the dried pieces increases in the range from 36.4 ± 2.1 MPa to 65.8 ± 2.3 MPa, and flexural strength increases from 30.4 ± 1.4 MPa to 36.4 ± 1.7 MPa. The mechanical properties of the sintered pieces are satisfying, with compressive strength, flexural strength, elasticity modulus and the fracture toughness 319 ± 18 MPa, 97.4 ± 6.0 MPa, 90 ± 2 GPa and 1.00 ± 0.07 MPa m1/2, respectively. The structures of green body and sintered ceramics are homogeneous, and large defects are not observed.