Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.92, No.10, 2212-2217, 2009
Aqueous Tape Casting of Zirconium Diboride
Aqueous tape casting of ZrB2 powder with sintering additives was investigated. The dispersion of ZrB2 suspensions in aqueous media was studied and characterized in terms of zeta potential, sedimentation, and rheological measurements. A well-stabilized suspension with a high solid content (up to 45 vol%) was prepared in the alkaline pH region with 0.4 wt% Lopon 885 as the dispersant. Several suspensions with different compositions of binder and plasticizer were prepared for comparison. Crack-free green tapes with a maximum thickness of approximately 250 mu m were obtained with a binder content of 18-23 wt%. The green tapes had high qualities, such as homogeneity, good flexibility, and a smooth surface. Results showed that the slurries at selected formulations met the needs of the tape-casting process.