Studies on Porous Body of Mgal2o4 Spinel Prepared by Slurry Casting

Abstract

Present work is based on the fabrication of bulk porous magnesium aluminate spinel (MAS and its characterization. Three different batches of MAS-slurry with varying solid-loading were prepared which contains sawdust as pore former in 10, 15 and 20 wt% of the body constituent. Slurry casting was performed with PVC mould of cylindrical shape. All samples were fired at temperatures (1600oC/2 hr). Structural characterization (XRD, FESEM) was carried out with measurement of physical properties: apparent porosity, bulk density, diametral strength. The microstructure could describe briefly the distribution of the porosity inside those samples and the average size of pores. Significant changes in total porosity and the appearance of pores take place with increased addition of pore former (sawdust). The strength vs porosity plots showed that the strength decreases drastically with the addition of pore former.