Some filtration parameters of diluted TiO2/water suspensions and the cake microstructure after sintering

Some filtration parameters (filter medium and average specific cake resistance) of dilute TiO2/water suspensions and the cake microstructure after sintering were investigated through the experiments conducted with and without binder at two concentrations (0.3 and 0.6 wt.% relative to the solids) and using coarse and fine pore size of filter medium (average pore size: 3 and 0.2 μm). Clogging and non-clogging filtration conditions were observed due to the particle-filter medium interaction. Medium clogging phenomena was observed with the particles without polymerization using coarse pore size filter medium and polymerized particles (0.6 wt.%) filtered with fine pore size filter medium. The cakes obtained from the clogging and non-clogging filtration conditions were dried and sintered at 950-1100 °C. The water adsorption tests and SEM studies showed an adequate relation between the clogging and non-clogging filtration conditions and microstructure of the cakes after sintering. The sintered products obtained from the non-clogging filtration condition had promising engineering properties in which fine and uniform grains with connected pores could be obtained.