Initial sintering stage pore growth mechanism applied to the manufacture of ceramic membrane supports

Initial sintering stage pore growth mechanism has been applied to the manufacture of alumina and zircon membrane supports formed by uniaxial compaction. The effect of sintering temperature (1200–1500 °C) on density, porosity, surface area, permeability, mean flow pore size, mesopores mean radius (<7 nm) and tortuosity has been investigated. A transition zone has been determined at the end of which permeability reaches a maximal value. Alumina and zircon samples possessed a reasonable flexural strength at the latter point. The transition zone is accompanied with a decrease in tortuosity for both materials. The trend of tortuosity change after the transition zone strongly depended on the shrinkage behavior of the samples.