Formable ceramic compositions and method of use therefor

Abstract

A plastically deformable mixture and method for making a body from the mixture are disclosed. The mixture is composed of powder materials, which when fired form as predominant phases: ceramic, glass-ceramic, glass, and combinations thereof, 0 to an effective amount of burnout agent, water, organic binder which can be cellulose ether, cellulose ether derivatives or combinations thereof, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic additives, to increase the wettability and/or lubricity of the mixture. One advantageous composition for ram extrusion is composed of ceramic-forming powders, water, and in percent by weight based on the powders, about 2% to 8% organic binder which can be methylcellulose, methylcellulose derivatives, and combinations thereof, about 0.3% to 1.0% sodium stearate, and about 0.5% to 2.0% oleic acid. Another such advantageous composition is composed of ceramic-forming powders, about 25% to 35% by weight graphite based on the powder material, as a burnout agent, water, and in percent by weight based on the powders and the burnout agent, about 2% to 8% organic binder which can be methylcellulose, methylcellulose derivatives, and combinations thereof, about 0.5% to 2.5% sodium stearate and about 0.3% to 1.0% oleic acid. The method of forming the body involves shaping the mixture into a green body, drying the green body, and heating to form the product body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.