Aqueous tape casting of 10mol%-Gd2O3-doped CeO2 nano-particles

The aqueous tape casting process was systematically developed and investigated for the tape casting of 10 mol%-Gd2O3-doped CeO2 nano-particles. This study focused on obtaining the optimum slurry formulations and on the effects of the processing parameters such as the stability, the rheology and the wetting properties on the tape characteristics. High solid loading (55 vol.%) and stable slurries of 10GDC nano-particles were achieved using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a dispersant; poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a binder; poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer; octanol as a defoamer and 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol ethoxylate as a surfactant. The pH values of the slurries were maintained in the range of 9.0–10.0. Homogeneous, defect-free green tapes (thickness 150–200 μm) with smooth surface and high relative green density (51.5%) were thus successfully obtained.