Composite fabrication by slip-casting

• Main Author: Sim, Wei Xuan
• Other Authors: Hortense Le Ferrand
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/153928
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project aims to investigate the effects of different polymer matrix materials infiltrated into the ceramic samples. Green body samples were fabricated using Magnetically Assisted Slip-Casting (MASC), and some samples underwent the process of sintering. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Epoxy (MS1000 and Epikote) polymer matrices were used by mixing their respective resin and hardener in the desired proportion to be infiltrated into both the green body and sintered samples prepared. The samples’ related properties were then characterized using Archimedes’ Principle, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Compression test. The findings show that infiltrating polymer matrix materials into either green body or sintered ceramic samples improves their strain values and that both hard (ceramic) and soft (polymer) phases are required for a good balance of strength and flexibility. This study is important for understanding the infiltration process and the role of polymers in an inorganic-organic composite so as to make composites suitable for a range of applications such as filtering purposes and bullet-proof armors.