Improvement of Microstructural Controllability of Cellular Ceramic for Multifunctional Composites

By modifying the sequences in preparation of aqueous ceramic slurries, starch was successfully employed to improve the microstructural controllability of alumina foams fabricated through protein coagulation casting technique. Open porosity was increased and the uniform distribution of microstructures was improved by the dual functions of starch as pore former and wet foam stabilizer. The viscosity of slurry was affected by the increasing amount of starch additive due to the total solid loading increase and the water uptake of starch. A well controlled pore structure will benefit multifunctional applications of these porous foams.