ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the desirable powder characteristics for the production of advanced ceramics. Mechanical methods and chemical methods are used to prepare ceramic powders. Powders of advanced ceramics are generally synthesized by chemical methods from synthetic materials or from naturally occurring raw materials that have undergone a considerable degree of chemical refinement. The chapter also discusses the common mechanical methods for preparing ceramic powders. Mechanical methods such as grinding and milling are widely used in the preparation of ceramic powders to reduce the average size of the powder, to modify the particle size distribution, and to break up agglomerated particles. One or more of a variety of mills may be used for powder size reduction, including high-compression roller mills, jet mills, and ball mills. Ball mills are categorized into various types, depending on the method used to impart motion to the balls like tumbling, vibration, attrition, planetary ball, and high-energy ball mills.
