Effect of Production Process Parameters on Manufacture and Properties of Porous Ceramic Based on Al2O3

Al2O3 based porous ceramic (APC) is prepared successfully by a polymer sponge replica method.(1) The main raw material used is white fuzed corundum powder. The effect of zirconium dioxide content (0 - 12 wt.%), sintering temperature (1450 - 1550A degrees C), and holding duration (2 - 6 h) on APC phase composition, macrostructure, microstructure, and properties after sintering, ultimate strength in compression and thermal shock resistance, are studied. Porous ceramic based on Al2O3, exhibiting an ultrafine microstructure, may be prepared by adding ZrO2. It has been detected that APC properties depend to a considerable extent on production process parameters. APC exhibiting considerable porosity (88.9%), good ultimate strength in compression (0.52 MPa), and good thermal shock resistance (19 thermal cycles) may be obtained by firing a specimen containing 8 wt.% ZrO2 at 1500A degrees C and holding for 2 h.