This paper focuses on the verifying the possibility of producing Al2O3-ZrO2 composite pipes with a gradient structure using centrifugal slip casting method. The aim of the research is to define the correlation between the rheological properties of aqueous suspensions of ceramic powders with different solid loading and obtaining the ZrO2 phase gradient in the Al2O3 matrix. Such products, due to their unique properties, can be utilized in the transport of aggressive substances, even in extreme temperature or corrosive conditions. The suspensions and the sintered samples were characterized by: broad rheological analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, stereological analysis and Vickers hardness tests. The study reports on a series of samples produced of ceramic suspensions (70 vol.% Al2O3-30 vol.% ZrO2) differing in the total solid loading in the range of 30-55 vol.%. The results clearly indicate that obtaining the gradient structure of ceramic-ceramic composite pipes is closely related to the rheological properties of the suspensions from which the samples are cast. The phase gradient is obtainable from suspensions 30-40 vol.%, in which the possibility of moving ZrO2 particles relative to the Al2O3 is quite high-these suspensions are characterized by low viscosity and the dominance of viscous over elastic properties (G' > G″).
Keywords: centrifugal slip casting; rheological properties; zirconia-alumina composites.