Osmotic consolidation of suspensions and gels

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1994.tb04626.x· OSTI ID:6988933

Miller, K T; Zukoski, C F ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States)

An osmotic method for the consolidation of suspensions of ceramic particles is demonstrated. Concentrated solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) are separated from a suspension of ceramic particles by a semipermeable membrane, creating a gradient in solvent chemical potential. Solvent passes from the suspension into the polymer solution, lowering its free energy and consolidating the suspension. Dispersions of stable 8-nm hydrous zirconia particles were consolidated to over 47% by volume. Suspensions of [alpha]-alumina in three states of aggregation (dispersed, weakly flocculated, and strongly flocculated) were consolidated to densities greater than or equal to those produced in conventional pressure filtration. Moreover, the as-consolidated alumina bodies were partially drained of fluid during the osmotic consolidation process, producing cohesive partially dried bodies with improved handling characteristics.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-91ER45439
• OSTI ID: 6988933
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States), Vol. 77:9; ISSN 0002-7820
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
COMPACTING
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
DENSITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
360201* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Preparation & Fabrication