Gel Casting of Complex Shaped Ceramics

Gel casting process involves solidification of ceramic slurries by the free radical initiated polymerization of a chain forming monomer with a cross linking monomer in presence of a catalyst. Specific advantages such as high solid loading (50-55 vol %), instant solidification (15-60 min) and uniform green microstructure enabling green machining. However, acrylamide based gel casting process suffers from the serious drawback of being toxic as a result of which its use on a wide spread commercial scale has been limited. In view of this an environmentally benign nontoxic polymeric such as methyl cellulose, which undergo thermally induced gelation at temperatures in the range of 70-80°C has also experimented for shaping.