Ceramic powders density

Binder selection depends on the ceramic powder, the size of the part, how it is formed, and the green density and strength requited. Binder concentration is deterrnined by these variables and the particle size, size distribution, and surface area of the ceramic powder. Three percent binder, based on dry weight, generally works for dry pressing and extmsion. 

Fig. 2. Processing C/C composites. Graphiie cloth is impregnated wilh lurfuryl alcohol and pyroty/ed three or more times, each time increasing pan density, strength, and modulus. Next, the part is packed with ceramic powder and fired al 1650 C tu form a silicon carbide coaling on the lop two layers of the luniinuie. to prevent oxidation. (LTV Aerospace and Defense)...

To characterize a ceramic powder, a representative sample must be taken. Methods of sampling and their errors therefore are discussed. Powder characteristics, including shape, size, size distribution, pore size distribution, density, and specific surface area, are discussed. Emphasis is placed on particle size distribution, using log-normal distributions, because of its importance in ceramic powder processing. A quantitative method for the comparison of two particle size distributions is presented, in addition to equations describing the blending of several powders to reach a particular size distribution. 

The properties of fractal ceramic powders depend on their fractal dimensions. The density, p, of a fractal particle depends on its radius, R, and the fractal dimension ... 

This chapter has described the various techniques of ceramic powder characterization. These characteristics include particle shape, surface area, pore size distribution, powder density and size distribution. Statistical methods to evaluate sampling and analysis error were presented as well as statistical methods to compare particle size distributions. Chemical analytical characterization although veiy important was not discussed. Surface chemical characterization is discussed separately in a later chapter. With these powder characterization techniques discussed, we can now move to methods of powder preparation, each of which 3uelds different powder characteristics. 

In this chapter, we have described the colloid chemistiy of ceramic powders in suspension. Colloid stability is manipulated by electrostatic and steric means. The ramifications on processing have been discussed with emphasis on single-phase ceramic suspensions with a distribution of particle sizes and composites and their problems of component segregation due to density and particle size and shape. The next chapter will discuss the rheology of Uie ceramic suspensions and the mechanical behavior of dry ceramic powders to prepare the ground for ceramic green body formation. The rheology of ceramic suspensions depends on their colloidal properties. 

The constitutive equation for a dry powder is a governing equation for the stress tensor, t, in terms of the time derivative of the displacement in the material, e (= v == dK/dt). This displacement often changes the density of the material, as can be followed by the continuity equation. The constitutive equation is different for each packing density of the dry ceramic powder. As a result this complex relation between the stress tensor and density complicates substantially the equation of motion. In addition, little is known in detail about the nature of the constitutive equation for the three-dimensional case for dry powders. The normal stress-strain relationship and the shear stress-strain relationship are often experimentally measured for dry ceramic powders because there are no known equations for their prediction. All this does not mean that the area is without fundamentals. In this chapter, we will not use the approach which solves the equation of motion but we will use the friction between particles to determine the force acting on a mass of dry powder. With this analysis, we can determine the force required to keep the powder in motion. 

In general, this Ck)ulomb yield criterion can be used to determine what stress will be required to cause a ceramic powder to flow or deform. All that is needed are the two characteristics of the ceramic powder the angle of friction, 8, and the cohesion stress, c, for each particular void fraction. With these data, the effective yield locus can be determined, from which the force required to deform the powder to a particular void fraction (or density) can be determined. This Coulomb yield criterion, however, gives no information on how fast the deformation will take place. To determine the velocity that occurs durii flow or deformation of a dry ceramic powder, we need to solve the equation of motion. The equation of motion requires a constitutive equation for the powder. The constitutive equation gives the shear and normal states of stress in terms of the time derivative of the displacement of the material. This information is unavailable for ceramic powders, and the measurements are particularly difficult [76, p. 93]. 

For two spray dried ceramic powders, the ultimate densities of the agglomerates and the abnegates, as well as the apparent yield pressure are given in Table 13.1. 

TABLE 13.1 Apparent Yield Pressures and Associated Densities for Compaction of Different Ceramic Powders... 

Fine ceramic powders made by spray drying, by sol-gel powder synthesis, and sometimes by precipitation usually have very low packing densities. A possible reason for these low packing densities is that the basic packing units are porous agglomerates. In sol-gel s3mthesis. 

Tungsten carbide from tungsten chloride, methane, and hydrogen is another example of nonoxide ceramic powder preparation . The reaction of the vapors takes place in heated tubes, dc plasmas or rf plasmas. The preparation of fine particles for high sintering reactivity is important in these nonoxide ceramics, which are otherwise difficult to density. 

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