Gel-casting of p-TCP using epoxy resin as a gelling agent

摘要

A water-soluble epoxy resin combined with a polyamine hardener is applied for gel-casting of beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics. The influence of dispersant and the solids loading on the Theological behavior of P-TCP slurries are investigated. When the concentration of the slurries increases from 40 vol percent to 55 vol percent, the compressive strength of the dried pieces increases in the range from 36.4 +- 2.1 MPa to 65.8 +- 2.3 MPa, and flexural strength increases from 30.4 +-1.4 MPa to 36.4 +- 1.7 MPa. The mechanical properties of the sintered pieces are satisfying, with compressive strength, flexural strength, elasticity modulus and the fracture toughness 319 +- 18MPa, 97.4 +- 6.0 MPa, 90 +- 2GPa and 1.00 +- 0.07MPam~(1/2), respectively. The structures of green body and sintered ceramics are homogeneous, and large defects are not observed.