Journal article

Producing large complex-shaped ceramic particle stabilized foams

C Chuanuwatanakul, C Tallon, DE Dunstan, GV Franks

Journal of the American Ceramic Society | WILEY | Published : 2013

Abstract

Highly porous ceramic foams can be produced by combining particle stabilized foams and gelcasting concepts. Sulfonate-type surfactants are selected to weakly hydrophobize the alumina surface and stabilize air bubbles in suspensions containing gelcasting additives, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofurane (DHF). The aim of this work was to prepare large complex-shaped ceramic foam objects with homogeneous microstructure and high porosity. A key to avoiding drying cracks is to strengthen the wet green body via gelcasting. The influence of the amount of gelcasting additives on the mechanical strength of the ceramic foam green bodies is investigated as well as the effect of u..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

C. Chuanuwatanakul gratefully acknowledges the University of Melbourne for the scholarship for her Ph.D. thesis. The authors acknowledge support from the Australian Research Council (Discovery Project DP0879953) and Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) for funding, supporting and providing the collaboration frame to perform this work. The authors would like to thank to Mr. Steve Adams (University of Melbourne) for his help with the measurement of mechanical properties and Mr. Roger Curtain (Bio21) for his help with the SEM.