Effect of adding water-based binders on the technological properties of ceramic slurries based on silicon carbide

Presented is research work concerning the possibility of applying new materials for the preparation of ceramic shell moulds.Most of the methods for the fabrication of ceramic slurries for investment casting are based on alcohol binders.This is one of the first researches focused on the preparation of ceramic slurries using a new, ecological method based on water-soluble binders.The work presents the rheological properties of ceramic slurries based on silicon carbide and new binders, i.e., polyvinyl alcohol and two polyacrylic binders.The rheological properties of the investigated slurries were modified by the addition of 15 % of mass fractions of the binders in the solution form.The solid phase content in the ceramic slurries was 62.5 % of mass fractions.Standard industrial parameters such as pH, density, Zhan 4# Cup viscosity and apparent viscosity determined by a rheometer were studied.The grain size of the silicon carbide powder was determined by SEM observations.The ceramic slurries were fabricated using a mechanical mixer, and the mixing time was 96 h.The results showed that the ceramic slurries were stable vs. time and met standard industrial requirements.The ceramic slurries have very promising properties and they are very promising for future shell moulds fabrication.