Optical Dilatometry and Push-Rod Dilatometry—A Case Study for Sintering Steel and Zirconia Tapes

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Analyses, vol. 4, pp. 10

Abstract

In this work, the sintering behavior of tapes prepared via tape casting from stainless-steel and zirconia powders is investigated by optical—as well as push-rod—dilatometry. Both methods are compared in terms of sample preparation, measurement conditions, and advantages and disadvantages. The experimental work shows the advantages of optical dilatometry in the characterization of the sintering behavior of load-free sintering tapes and the possibility of simultaneously observing sample warpage and deformation. Push-rod dilatometry requires a constant load on the sample, which influences measurement in the case of tapes with lower mechanical stability due to their sensitivity to deformation, but it has advantages because of its higher accuracy in measuring dimensional changes. In the case of warpage, shrinkage due to the sintering of the sample is superimposed by an irregular deformation process that can be separated by analytical methods. No in-plane shrinkage anisotropy of the tapes is observed for either type of tape. In the case of the push-rod dilatometer, an additional peak in the shrinkage rate is observed in the early stage of compaction, along with a slight shift and an increased maximum in the compaction rate. This is most likely due to the effects of the contact pressure of the push-rod.

Authors 5

1. Tim Gestrich

   Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) , Winterbergstraße 28 , 01277 Dresden , Germany

2. Jan Mahling

   Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) , Winterbergstraße 28 , 01277 Dresden , Germany

3. Chao Liu Aachen Institute for Materials Applications in Mechanical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Materials Applications in Mechanical Engineering (IWM) , RWTH Aachen , Augustinerbach 4 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

4. Christoph Broeckmann Aachen Institute for Materials Applications in Mechanical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Materials Applications in Mechanical Engineering (IWM) , RWTH Aachen , Augustinerbach 4 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

5. Alexander Michaelis

   Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) , Winterbergstraße 28 , 01277 Dresden , Germany