Fabrication of ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ green body through gelcasting process using low-toxicity monomer DMAA

ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ green bodies were prepared using a low-toxicity monomer N, N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMAA). The effects of the amount of dispersant, ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ suspensions pH value, ZrO₂ content in ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ powders, solid volume fraction of ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ powders in slurries, ball-milled time and DMAA content (mass fraction) in the premix solution on the viscosity of ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ slurries were discussed. The mechanical properties and microstructure of ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ green body by gelcasting were investigated.The results show that low viscosity ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ suspension was obtained when the suspension pH is 9, the dispersant content is 0.6% of ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ powders (mass ratio), the ball-milled time is 6 h. The viscosity of suspensions increases with increasing solid volume fraction and DMAA content, but decrease with increasing the content of ZrO₂. The resultant green body has uniform structure and the bending strength is as high as 25 MPa.