Gel-casting of fine zirconia using DMAA gel system

In order to reduce the toxicity of gelcasting with traditional AM/MBAM Gel system and Prepare high properties green bodies and ceramics. Gelation process of low-toxic DMAA/MBAM system as well as the effect of pH and NH₄PMAA on rheological behaviors of slurries were studied. The perfect green bodies and ceramics were prepared using high solid loading slurries with low viscosity and low-toxicity. The solid loading of slurries can be up to 56vol%. The green bodies are surface-smooth without cracking or exfoliation and their bending strength can reach 30 MPa. The pore size distribution of the green bodies is single peaked. The mean bending strength of sintered ceramics is 960 MPa and the fracture toughness can reach 17.3 MPa·m^1/2. The zirconia ceramics have good homogeneity and well dense structure, consisting of more tetragonal ZrO₂ phase.