Powder mixing effect on the compaction capabilities of ceramic powders

By mixing any two of four alumina powders, a variety of powder mixtures were produced. The relationships among relative density, stress and strain were compared for those powder mixtures in order to investigate the powder mixing effect on the compaction capability. The compaction capability was quantified by the initial relative densities. Due to the difference in the average particle size ratio between two powders as well as the compaction capability difference of the powders, the initial relative density as a function of powder proportion can be described by either a linear or parabolic curve. The essential initial powder characteristics that exhibit each curve were identified. Also, the boundaries for each initial relative density versus powder proportion curve were proposed.