Wet Foam Stabilized by Amphiphiles to Tailor the Microstructure of Porous Ceramics

Abstract

Wet foams formed through direct foaming were stabilized using various concentrations of amphiphilic particles that could control pore size and porosity. Microstructures and wet foam stability were tailored by amphiphile concentration, particle concentration, contact angle and pH of the suspension to obtain crack-free porous solid after sintering. The influence of these parameters on the porosity was satisfactorily described in terms of combined effects of the contact angle and particle concentration of the initial suspensions, directly affected by amphiphile concentration. Pores were obtained with sizes of c. a 30 - 300 µm and porosities of over 80%.