Fabrication and Properties of Alumina Flat Sheet Membrane Surports
The porous ceramic support was realized at various temperature range from 1200°C~1300°C using α-Al2O3 as main material, carbon powder as pore-former, kaolin clay and titanium dioxide as sintering aids and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as adhesives. The microstructures of sintered body were significantly affected by the amount of pore-former and sintering temperature. The results indicated that the porosity dramatically increased and the pore radius increased from 2.9 μm to 3.2 μm as carbon powder addition increased from 3 wt.% to 12 wt.%. Correspondingly, their pure water flux depending on the pore structure parameters of the support increased from 1.37 to 4.53 m3.m-2.h-1.bar-1. To prepare porous alumina support with 40% open porosity, carbon powder up to 10 wt.% is appropriate. Sintering experiments showed that the optimum sintering conditions are the sintering temperature of 1300 °C and 2 h holding time at this temperature.