Dispersion, rheology and aqueous tape casting of alumina–zirconia composites

Alumina and zirconia were dispersed individually in aqueous media using Darvan C as the dispersant and at optimised pH condition. Based on sedimentation, rheology, yield stress, electrodeposition and zeta potential measurements, 2 wt-% of the dispersant and a pH of 10·5 were found to be the optimum condition for the codispersion of alumina and zirconia. Aqueous tape casting slurries with a solid loading of 32 wt-% were prepared under the optimised conditions of dispersion. Alumina–zirconia (50 : 50) composite tapes of 40 μm thickness and 56% green density were obtained.