Porous textured ceramics with controlled grain size and orientation

Abstract

Texture in ceramics can enhance their functional and structural properties. Current methods for texturation in dense ceramics employ plate-like particles or microplatelets as starting powders and processes that drive their orientation into specific directions. Using ultra-low magnetic fields combined with slip casting, it is possible to purposely orient magnetically responsive particles in any direction. Here, we explore the application of magnetic slip casting to bimodal slurries containing alumina nanoparticles and alumina microplatelets of various dimensions to create texture in ceramics with different grain sizes. After sintering, the obtained ceramics show anisotropic grains with controllable orientations, grain length of 3–7 μm, mild open porosity between 30–40 %, and interesting cracking behavior. Textured porous ceramics with tunable grain dimensions and orientations are promising for filtering, biomedical or composite applications.