Modeling of Process Parameters of Gelcast Fused Silica Ceramics using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Fused silica ceramics with high flexural strength were casted using gelcasting, a near net shape fabrication technique. Methylacrylamide (MAM) and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAM) were used as monomers. The effects of monomer content (MAM and MBAM) and their ratio (MAM/MBAM) on the flexural strength of fused silica ceramics were investigated. The process parameters taken for study in this work include solid loading, monomer content and ratio of monomers. As the monomer content increases the flexural strength of fused silica body decreases. Also as the ratio of monomers increases the flexural strength increases and then decreases which shows that there is an optimum value in the ratio of monomers. The maximum flexural strength obtained in this study is as high as 52.3 MPa at monomer content of 10 wt% and ratio of monomers of 6.