METHOD FOR PREPARING SHAPED, GREEN CERAMIC COMPACTS FROM HIGHLY FLOWABLE AND FILLABLE POWDERS CONTAINING .beta.-AND /OR .beta.'-AL.SUB.2O.SUB.3

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA stabilized slurry of Beta-type alumina powder, a methodof stabilizing said slurry of Beta-type alumina and a method of pro-ducing minute, spherical agglomerates of said Beta-type alumina byspray drying said stabilized slurry. Said stabilized slurry exhibitsa prolonged viscosity sufficiently low to accomodate spray dryingtechniques to produce said minute spherical agglomerates capable ofrapid filling in ceramic forming pressing machinery. Beta-type aluminapowder is mixed with water and other conventional additives to form aslurry mixture. A small amount of a polycarboxylic acid containing3 or more carbon atoms and being capable of chelating with aluminumion is added as a dispersing agent to inhibit any substantial increasein viscosity. The maintenance of moderate to low viscosity permitsapplication of such slurry to above processes for forming Beta-typealumina agglomerates which rely for formation on a low viscosity,uniformly dispersed stabilized slurry.The invention herein described was made in the course ofor under a contract or subcontract thereunder with the National ScienceFoundation.