Microstructural Characterization of Alumina and Silicon Carbide Slip‐Cast Cakes

Abstract

The effect of solids loading, particle‐size distribution, and suspension viscosity on the resultant microstructure of slipcast monolithic ceramics prepared from aqueous suspensions of alumina and silicon carbide was studied. Unimodal alumina suspensions (average particle size = 0.6 μm) were prepared at 35, 37, and 42 vol%. Silicon carbide suspensions (average particle size = 0.7 μm) were produced with different quantities of dispersant at 37 vol%. Similarly, aqueous alumina suspensions of 42 and 50 vol% were produced with a bimodal particle‐size distribution. The slip‐cast microstructures were characterized by mercury porosimetry and small‐angle neutron scattering, which provided pore size (distribution), pore fraction, and pore morphology. Essentially, the combination of these techniques deciphered packing differences obtained in the cake microstructures. For the alumina cakes produced from the 35,37, and 42 vol% suspensions, the individual characterization techniques, mercury intrusion, and the neutron scattering measurements showed that the cake microstructures were similar in pore size and quantity. However, comparison of the techniques and their assumptions showed differences in the pore shape. Mercury porosimetry and neutron scattering showed bimodal porosity for the cake produced from a mixture of 85% 6‐μm particles and 15% 0.6‐μm particles. Pore volume fraction and pore size increases were correlated with increased viscosity in the silicon carbide suspensions. In addition, the silicon carbide cake microstructures were measured, and homogeneity was evaluated as a function of position in the cast.