Slip-casting process of MgO–Y2O3 nanocomposite: Investigation of powder synthesis method

Abstract

In this paper, yttria-magnesia composite nano-powders with a chloride and nitrate-acetate precursors were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The green body of MgO–Y2O3 nanocomposite was fabricated by the slip-casting method and the rheological properties were improved by adding Dolapix CE64 to the slurries as a dispersant agent. The Y2O3–MgO nanocomposite slurry with a solid loading of 60 wt% and the pH of 12 was obtained using 1 wt% Dolapix CE64.The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Microscope (FESEM) and Brunaure-Emmett-Teller (BET) tests were used.Various slip/slurry characterization techniques such as sedimentation, viscosity measurements and porosimetry were used to optimize the slip casting parameters. The relative densities of the green and sintered body (1400 °C/2 h) were 50% and 86%, respectively. The FESEM results of the sintered yttria-magnesia composite with the chloride precursors showed the more uniform distribution of MgO and Y2O3 phases than the nitrate precursors.