Effect of Various Pore Formers on the Microstructural Development of Tape-Cast Porous Ceramics

Abstract

Various types of pore formers have been used for the fabrication of ceramics with controlled porosity. This study addresses a detailed and systematic comparison of different pore formers (e.g. graphite, polymethyl methacrylate, sucrose and polystyrene) with distinct features such as size, distribution and morphology of particles and decomposition/oxidation behavior. Investigations also involve their effect on the rheological properties of the slurries and the microstructural development of laminated porous ceramic tapes. Morphological features of the pore former particles were characterized using laser diffraction, B.E.T. surface area measurement and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques as their thermal decomposition/oxidation behavior were determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) methods. Tape compositions were developed and optimized in order to incorporate identical volumetric loadings of the materials in the tape formulations with different pore formers for a reliable comparison of their pore forming characteristics. Porous yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramics were fabricated without macroscopic defects (e.g. cracks, warpage and delamination) by developing heating profiles based on the identified thermal properties of the pore formers. Characterization of the sintered porous ceramics by SEM and mercury intrusion porosimetry techniques revealed novel relationships between the physical properties of the utilized pore formers, processing parameters and final pore structures.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Controlled porosity; E. fuel cells; Laser diffractions; Macroscopic defects; Mercury intrusion porosimetry; Microstructural development; Morphological features; Pore formers; Pore forming; Porous ceramics; Processing parameters; Rheological property; Surface area measurement; Tape casting; Volumetric loading; Warpages, Cracks; Differential thermal analysis; Mercury (metal); Polymethyl methacrylates; Polystyrenes; Scanning electron microscopy; Sintering; Sugar (sucrose); Thermogravimetric analysis; Ceramic materials

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0272-8842

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2013

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