ABSTRACT
Slip casting, pressure casting, centrifugal casting, and tape casting are colloidal processing techniques for ceramics. Colloidal processing is the key to improving the actual properties of different types of ceramic materials toward their theoretically estimated optimal properties. In order to obtain a suitable consolidation rheology, handling strength, etc., in slip casting, pressure casting, and centrifugal casting, the interparticle forces have to be controlled by dispersants, and green strength has to be controlled by long chain molecules. The processing agents for tape casting are treated separately from processing agents for the other casting methods, since in industry tape casting is performed almost solely in nonaqueous media and since tape casting makes extraordinary demands with regard to high green strength. Centrifugal casting and gel casting have recently shown to be promising forming methods. Their greatest potential is probably for delicately shaped components with demands for close tolerances.
