Manufacturing of ceramic porous preforms by sintering of Al2O3 powder

Purpose: The aim of the study is to develop a method of manufacturing porous preforms based on ceramic powder Al2O3 used as the strengthening for the production of modern metal composite materials. Design/methodology/approach: Semi-products were produced by sintering of ceramic powders with addition of the pores forming agent. The material of the preform was Al2O3 powder while as a pores and canals forming agent inside the sintered ceramic skeleton coal and charcoal were used. Particle size measurements of Al2O3 powder, charcoal, and coal using laser particle size measurer were made. Preforms were also observed in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Findings: The obtained preforms have a volume fraction of ceramic phase in the range of 20-44% due to the differences of sintering temperature and various portion and coal origin used as pores forming agent. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation of presented method is the possibility of obtaining preforms where a porosity are not exceeding 80%. Where, in the case of using ceramic fibers, the pores may be more than 90% volume fraction of the material. Practical implications: Manufactured ceramic preforms are widely used as a reinforcement for production of composite materials by infiltration methods. This method enables the production of metal and locally reinforced composite products with an exact mapping shape. Originality/value: Results indicate the possibility of obtaining new preforms which are a cheaper alternative to semi-finished products based on ceramic fibers. On the other hand, the use of coal and charcoal as a pores forming agent is an economically justified alternative to previously used materials such as fibers carbon and graphite.