The effect of polymeric template density and solid loading on the properties of ceramic foam

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of various polymeric foam template densities and solid loadings on the properties of ceramic foam. The study was based on six different polymeric foam templates with densities ranging from 13.4 to 37.8 kg/m3. The templates were impregnated in ceramic slurry with solid loading ranging from 15 to 60 wt. %. Effects of polymeric foam template density and solid loading quantity were evaluated based on porosity, density and mechanical properties of resulted ceramic foam. It was found that the density, porosity and flexural strength of ceramic foam seem to be independent from the template densities when the solid loading is less than 35 wt. %. For the given solid loading, i.e < 35 wt. %, the density and flexural strength are less than 1100 kg/m3 and 6 MPa, respectively, and porosities are higher than 40%. The polymer replication method is a versatile method for the production of ceramic foams. It will allow the production of any desired properties of ceramic foam through a simple modification route.