Diametral deformation behavior and machinability of methyl cellulose thermal gel cast processed alumina ceramics

Thermally induced gelation of methyl cellulose as the networking additive has been demonstrated for consolidating alumina from slurry of 70–72 wt% solid loading. Concentration as low as 0.2 wt% of methylcellulose had been found to be sufficient to form a uniform network in ceramics with enhanced machinability even with the conventional tools. Cast and machined samples could be sintered close to theoretical densities without any warpage or visible cracks with very fast heating rates of 3 °C/min. Low failure stress and high compression distance exhibited by the thermal gel cast samples in comparison to the compacted samples during diametral tests compliments the observed machinability.