Influence of slurry characteristics on porosity and mechanical properties of alumina foams

Alumina foams with porosity ranging between 50% and 92% were fabricated by foaming followed by coagulation of ovalbumin based aqueous slurries. Different combinations of ovalbumin-water mix and alumina loading provided a means to vary slurry viscosity over a wide range. Slurry viscosity influenced the foaming behavior leading to variation in microstructure and mechanical properties of alumina foams. Controlling the slurry viscosity resulted in controlled the total porosity, microstructures and mechanical properties. Mechanical properties were correlated with different micro-mechanical models. Both microstructure and mechanical properties agreed well as closed cell alumina foam due to presence of low percent area of interconnections.