Analytical Electron Microscopy Study of Green Ceramics Formed from Aqueous Suspensions Using the Hydrolysis-Assisted Solidification Process

Abstract

During the hydrolysis-assisted solidification (HAS) of aqueous ceramic suspensions, aluminum hydroxides are formed that bind the ceramic particles into a stiff wet body. Transmission electron microscopy investigations of HAS-processed Al2O3 and ZrO2 green parts after drying revealed that the secondary phase is amorphous and distributed uniformly around the host ceramic particles. The estimated thickness of this layer was 3–5 nm. Moreover, areas of a few tens of nanometers in size were found at three-particle junctions that contained an amorphous phase and individual nanocrystals of boehmite.