Effects of starch addition on characteristics of tubular porous ceramic membrane substrates

In this work the Atterberg limits tests were used first for understanding the effects of starch addition to the plasticity of paste. The green substrates of tubular porous ceramic membranes consisting of starch were prepared using the extrusion method, followed by curing, drying, and sintering processes. The substrates thus obtained were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy, uniaxial compressive strength measurements, and permporometry to evaluate the effects of starch addition on the relevant characteristics. Experimental results have demonstrated that an addition of starch granules to the raw materials would increase the porosity, pore size, and permeability of the sintered matrices but accompanied by a decrease of the compressive strength. It revealed that the membrane substrates with desired pore sizes and permeability could be obtained by adding a proper amount of starch.