Effect Of Sintering Temperature On The Physical Properties Of Titania-Alumina-Silver Nitrate Foam

摘要

Nowadays, ceramic foam was widely used in bio-medical as well as engineering field such as thermal insulation and adsorption of environmental pollutants. Ceramic foam made of a porous structure that provides the physical and mechanical properties of both, low specific weight and high thermal fluidity. In this study, the selected starting ceramics powder are titanium dioxide (TiO_2), aluminum oxide (Al_2O_3) and Silver Nitrate (AgNO_3). In general, TiO_2 is very light weight compared to other substance. It is brightness and very high refractive index. On the other hand, Al_2O_3 is responsible for the resistance of metallic aluminum to weathering while AgNO_3 is plays important role as antiseptics. These unique properties of these ceramics has encouraged more study to be implemented on it. Preferred method for the ceramic foam fabrication is via slurry method. In which consists steps of mixing, dipping, pressing, drying and sintering. Three different temperatures of 1200°C, 1250°C and 1300°C, with compositions of 22.5wt% of TiO_2 + 7.5wt% Al_2O_3 + 1.25 wt% AgNO_3 with 2.5wt% of Carbolic methylcelulose (CMC) and 7.5wt% Polyethylene glycol (PEG) are apply in this study. Analysis of the phases, morphology, porosity, density and sringkage were carried out on all samples. From this study, foams of 47.8% to 62.6% porosity using TiO_2 + Al_2O_3 + AgNO_3 were successfully produced. The highest porosity value of 62.61% was fabricated at 1200°C and the highest density value of 2.06% at 1300°C. Thus, it is concluded that the optimal fabrication slurry method parameters of sintering temperature of 1300°C and the compositions of 22.5wt% of TiO_2 + 7.5wt% Al_2O_3 + 1.25wt% AgNO_3 with 2.5 wt% of CMC and 7.5wt% PEG has absorbability of heavy metal and bacteria in pre-treatment process can be develope.