Rheology of alumina suspensions stabilized with Tiron

Pressure filtration technique was used to obtain defect-free microstructure of green cast ceramic bodies. Stable alumina suspensions of desired rheology (<5 Pa s at $1\;s^{-1}$) containing 60-80 mass. % solid loading were prepared in the alkaline region (at $pH{\approx}9$) with an optimum amount of 0.5 dmb % of Tiron added. Acidic region (at $pH{\approx}4$) enabled the preparation of 60 mass. % suspensions with addition of 1.5 dmb % of Tiron. The best quality slip was processed from an 80 mass.% suspension with 63% of theoretical density. The homogeneity of particle packing and the absence of defects in microstructure were proven by narrow pore size distribution (ranging from 32 to 64 nm, with up to 85% abundance), confirming advantages of the wet consolidation route.