Alumina gelcasting with a new low-toxicity system

Industrialization of gelcasting technique has been prevented to some extent because the main component of the gel, acrylamide, is a neurotoxin. Therefore a low-toxicity gelcasting system is highly more desirable in this field. This paper reports a new low-toxicity gelcasting system based on the polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The rheological properties of alumina suspensions with two dispersants, JN281 and tri-ammonium citrate (TAC), in the new system are contrasted. High solids loading alumina suspension with low viscosity can be obtained by using JN281 as the dispersant. The green bodies made through the new system have a mean strength of 18MPa and have homogeneous microscopic structure. Dense complex-shaped ceramic parts are successfully produced through the new system.