Mechanical characterization of cellular ceramics

Polymeric sponge replication technique has been widely used to obtain ceramic foams with a cellular structure for filtration applications. This process is based on an impregnation of a polymeric sponge with ceramic slurry. Ceramic filters must present simultaneously high permeability and strength. However, these parameters are influenced in different ways by the processing method and these properties are inversely proportional. In this work the mechanical properties by compression and flexural has been evaluated for 10 and 40 ppi (pores per linear inch) Al2O3–ZrO2 filter materials. Characterization included mechanical properties, crystalline identification as well as the microstructural analyses of the fracture surface.