Characterizing and Predicting Organic Decomposition for Ceramic Processing

摘要

Ceramic powder processing typically makes use of organic additives (e.g. dispersingrnagents, binders, lubricants, etc.) to aid processing. A critical process step after shape forming isrnthe removal of the organic additives by thermal decomposition. The ability to predict andrncontrol thermal decomposition can significantly impact ceramic manufacturing costs and yields,rnparticularly for processes that use relatively large concentrations of organics like ceramic taperncasting. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) has been used to characterize organicrndecomposition in a low temperature co-fire ceramic (LTCC) dielectric tape (Dupont 951 GreenrnTape?) as a function of time and temperature. The analysis was used to calculate activationrnenergies for organic decomposition, and master decomposition curves (MDCs) for two distinctrndecomposition processes in the Green Tape? system. The master curves generated provide arnmeans to predict weight loss due to organic decomposition as a function of time and temperature.rnAdditionally, the rate of organic decomposition can be predicted during processing. MDC'srnshould prove useful in optimizing the time-temperature profile to complete organicrndecomposition in ceramic processing.