Surface Chemistry of Various Poly(vinyl butyral) Polymers Adsorbed onto Alumina

Organic polymeric materials, often used as ceramic processing aids to assist in the fabrication of green bodies, are thought to be of a temporary nature, nature, being easily removed by thermolysis at temperatures between 250° and 600°C. The interaction of various poly(vinyl butyral) binders with fine, high‐purity alumina powder was investigated using variable‐temperature Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. It was found that there was interaction between the functionality of the polymers and the surface of the alumina powders. If these interactions are strong enough to persist to initial sintering temperatures, the polymers would not then be merely innocuous temporary processing aids, but could have an effect on the development of ceramic microstructures.