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The objective
of this Diploma work is to evaluate and develop dispersing concepts for
extreme solids-loaded powder suspensions. This is crucial for shaping
ceramic components, especially when utilising tape casting and direct
casting. Tape casting is frequently used to produce substrates for
electronic circuits, piezoceramics etc as well as solid electrolytes for
fuel cells. Direct casting is the common name for a group of novel shaping
techniques (gel casting, freeze forming, direct coagulation casting etc.)
with the potential of broadening the use of ceramics in various
applications. Water-based and solvent-based systems together with various
processing additives (dispersants, binders, consolidators) will be
evaluated. Surface-chemical characterisations, rheological studies and
shaping tests will be the most important experimental tools. Sintering and
evaluations of ultimate material properties will also be included.
There is a
great industrial interest for new shaping technologies with possibilities
of simplifying the fabrication of component prototypes as well as
large-scale production of advanced ceramics (Al2O3,
ZrO2, Si3N4, SiC etc). This work will be
conducted within a member program sponsored by a group of Swedish
companies (Volvo Aero, Volvo Materialteknik, Scania, Nobel Biocare,
Sandvik Coromant and others) and presented at meetings with these
companies.
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