Effects of monomer composition on the mechanical and machinability properties of gel-cast alumina green compacts

In the present work, machinable green gel-cast alumina compacts were prepared by using polyethyleneglycol (400) diacrylate (P4) and polyethyleneglycol (600) dimethacrylate (P6) together with the acrylamide (AAm) comonomer. The glass transition temperatures of copolymers decreased with the increasing of P4 or P6 amount in total copolymer. The green samples obtained in an aqueous system were mechanically analyzed by means of three-point bending. Flexural strength values increased, from 2 MPa to 25 MPa, as the weight ratio of P4 or P6 in total copolymer (AAm-P4 or AAm-P6) decreased from 90% to 3.5%, respectively. The green gel-cast samples prepared by using P4 or P6 were machined easily by using a lathe, drill and milling machine without damaging the samples, which have good surface finish. The binder removal was achieved at lower temperatures than those samples prepared by using only AAm.