Processing of an aqueous tape casting of mesocarbon microbeads for high-performance carbonaceous laminations

Tape casting is a traditional method for the manufacture of ceramic laminations. In this study, aqueous tape casting was adopted to obtain high-performance carbonaceous laminations with homogeneous density and high strength. For the preparation of a stable and homogeneous slurry of mesocarbon microbeads, the research focuses on the theological behavior of slurries consisting of a solvent and additives such as a binder, plasticizer and dispersant. After three to five slips of casting tape laminated together under 40 MPa at 85 degreesC and sinter heated to 1400 degreesC for 1 h at a given heating ratio, carbonized laminations are obtained with an average density of 1.66 g/cm(3), a bending strength of 82.76 MPa and an electrical conductivity of 169.2 S/cm. During sintering of green laminations, the additives are pyrolyzed at 500 degreesC to form amorphous carbon, which reduces the electrical conductivity and the mechanical strength of the carbonized laminations. However, by controlling the total additive content of the slurries, the influence of the additives can be reduced to a minimum. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.