Application of the Ergun's Equation in Porous Ceramic Based on CaO-Stabilized ZrO2

The study of the permeability in porous ceramics with potential application as filters is essential because this parameter includes a number of processing variables such as porosity and pore size of great importance in the development of porous media. The knowledge of the relationship between permeability and these variables, provide a better criterion to determine the process variables that result in an optimization of the permeability. The optimization of this parameter is a basic requirement for an adequate operation of the ceramic as a filter material. In this study, the permeability of porous ceramic prepared from different compositions of the mixture of ZrO2 and a high alumina cement with 30 wt% CaO and sintered at 1400 ¡ C was experimental and theoretically evaluated. Theoretical evaluation of permeablity was performed using the Ergun«s equation, which describes the permeability constant as a funtion of the porosity and mean pore size of the porous material