Preparation of Chamottes as a Raw Material for Low‐Cost Ceramic Membranes

Low‐cost ceramic membranes are usually prepared from a mixture of natural raw materials and some organic porogen agent such as starch. The fact that porogen must be completely eliminated during firing, leaving an interconnected porous structure, impose large firing times, increasing the final price. A study about the synthesis of porous chamottes as an alternative to organic pore formers was conducted to reduce firing costs. Chamottes were obtained from mixtures of clay and starch. Different starches were used and the influence of the composition and processing variables were studied. The viability of the porous chamottes was demonstrated.