Steel belt carriers

Tape can be cast on a stainless steel table or belt, glass plate, or a Mylar, Teflon, or ceUulose acetate film carrier. The tape should adhere to the carrier sufficiently to prevent curling, but should be easily removable. In a continuous casting process, the tape is dried by air flowing 1—2 m/min counter to the casting direction. A typical dry green tape contains approximately 35 vol % organics, 50% ceramic powder, and 15% porosity. 

Large productions are based on continuous casting machines where the doctor blade is stationary. A moving carrier, such as an endless stainless-steel or plastic-film belt, moves under the fixed doctor blade. In this case, the carrier width is 1 m and the length can reach 40 m. The tape is dried by passing through a tunnel where solvents are evaporated. Dried tape can be removed from the carrier and rolled for storage at the end of the carrier. 

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