Layered ceramic composites via control of electrophoretic deposition kinetics

The article summarises optimisation of electrophoretic deposition of alumina and zirconia from concentrated isopropanolic suspensions stabilised by monochloracetic acid. Method for in situ monitoring of deposited mass was developed and experimentally checked. Prediction of electrophoretic deposition kinetics was based on the voltage drop measurement and electrophoretic mobility estimation from experimental kinetics data. It was shown that voltage change during electrophoretic deposition did not affect relative density of the deposited layers in the laminates prepared. For this purpose a method of the relative density measurement using the microscopic measurement of relative shrinkage of individual layers was developed. Accuracy of the method was confirmed by comparison with shrinkage measurement using high temperature dilatometry. Adopting obtained results the alumina/zirconia laminate with precise control of layers thicknesses and final densities was prepared.