Influence of the acrylamide-based monomer on the sintering of ceramics shaped by gelcasting

Abstract

Alumina ceramics were prepared by gelcasting, based on an in-situ polymerization that promotes the formation of homogeneous green ceramic parts and allows the preparation of complex shapes and/or large-size ceramics. The influence of the monomer on the sintering behaviour of alumina pellets has been studied by considering three acrylamide-based monomers, i.e. acrylamide (AM), methacrylamide (MAM) and dimethylacrylamide (DMAA). Slurries with an alumina solid content of 50 vol% have been cast and pre-sintered pellets (1000 °C) with relative densities around 55% were obtained. These presintered pellets exhibit different granular packing, depending on the initial monomer used, as demonstrated by X-ray tomography, SEM and Hg porosimetry analyses. This results in significant differences in sintering behaviour, giving rise to very different final densities after 1 h sintering at 1530 °C: from 88% to 98%. This behaviour is described in terms of shrinkage rate, linked to the granular packing induced by the gelation process.

Keywords

• Alumina
• Gelcasting
• Grain packing
• Green microstructure
• Sintering