Fabrication of porous clay ceramics using surfactant

Abstract

Porous clay ceramics was fabricated using the surfactant as a foaming agent in the secondary-clay produced atYoung-Am area in Chun-Nam province. The concentration of surfactant in ceramic slurry was the key factor controling thepore characteristics and physical properties of the porous ceramics. The more increase of the surfactant concentrationincrease the more foaming ability and the stability of foamed layer were improved, but the foaming ability was limitedwithin 6.0 wt% of surfactant because the initial viscosity of the slurry increased with increasing the amounts of surfactant.The formed specimen were sintered at both 1150oC and 1200oC, the porous ceramics showed 0.9 of specific gravity, 50 %of water absorption, 45 % of apparent porosity, 14 % of shrinkage and 70 kgf/cm2of compresive strength.Key words Porous ceramics, Surfactant, Foaming ability