Aqueous processing of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 green tapes

An aqueous tape casting of Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 (SDC) ceramics was developed using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as dispersant, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as binder, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as plasticizer, and deionized water as solvent. Surface properties of SDC powder with and without PAA dispersant were characterized by electrokinetic measurements. The rheology of the SDC slurries was evaluated with a rotary viscometer. The zeta potential measurement showed that the isoelectric point (IEP) for SDC powders in the absence of dispersant corresponds to a pH value of 3.66. The experimental results showed that the pH value greatly affects the rheology of the slurry. The optimum content to get a stable dispersed slurry is 2 wt% PAA in pH value range of 9–10. In presence of 2 wt% PAA dispersant, 55 wt% SDC powders exhibited shear thinning behavior, indicating that SDC slurry was homogenous and well stabilized. Homogeneous, smooth, and defect-free green tapes were successfully obtained by an appropriate slurry formula.