2006 Volume 114 Issue 1329 Pages 371-376
Highly microstructure controlled ceramics are required for improving their properties. Colloidal processing using fine particles provides this required control mechanism through a well-dispersed suspension or hetero-coagulate suspension. As a merit of colloidal processing, the preparation of superplastic zirconia is demonstrated using sub-micronsized powders. Highly microstructure controlled ceramics fabricated by a novel colloidal processing were demonstrated as follows: (i) dense nano-sized zirconia without pressure sintering, (ii) porous ceramics with controlled pore size by hetero-coagulated suspension of ceramics and polymer, and (iii) textured ceramics with feeble magnetic susceptibility by colloidal processing in a high magnetic field.