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Osmotic Consolidation of Suspensions and Gels
Author(s) -
Miller Kelly T.,
Zukoski Charles F.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1994.tb04626.x
Subject(s) - consolidation (business) , suspension (topology) , ceramic , materials science , chemical engineering , cubic zirconia , osmotic pressure , semipermeable membrane , solvent , ethylene oxide , polymer , membrane , filtration (mathematics) , composite material , chemistry , copolymer , organic chemistry , biochemistry , mathematics , accounting , homotopy , pure mathematics , engineering , business , statistics
An osmotic method for the consolidation of suspensions of ceramic particles is demonstrated. Concentrated solutions of poly(ethylene oxide) are separated from a suspension of ceramic particles by a semipermeable membrane, creating a gradient in solvent chemical potential. Solvent passes from the suspension into the polymer solution, lowering its free energy and consolidating the suspension. Dispersions of stable 8‐nm hydrous zirconia particles were consolidated to over 47% by volume. Suspensions of α–alumina in three states of aggregation (dispersed, weakly flocculated, and strongly flocculated) were consolidated to densities greater than or equal to those produced in conventional pressure filtration. Moreover, the as–consolidated alumina bodies were partially drained of fluid during the osmotic consolidation process, producing cohesive partially dried bodies with improved handling characteristics.