A REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GEL CASTING METHOD FOR POROUS CERAMIC FABRICATION.

The objective of this paper is to present an overview of the development of gel casting methods on synthesis techniques and the characteristics of gel casting porous ceramics and its applications. The gel casting method is a colloidal ceramic synthesis method that requires a short period for the ceramic body to develop. This review provides the latest developments in the gel casting process of synthesizing porous ceramics. At the beginning of the gel casting method development, the acrylamide (AM) system was the most commonly utilized system. Over time, the use of the AM system began to be minimized because of its toxicity. Researchers began to develop natural polymers as pore templates and natural minerals as raw materials in the gel casting method. In addition to polymers and raw materials, the gel casting process also requires additives such as gelling agents and dispersants. At the end of this review, a mapping of how to select the additives in the gel casting process, for AM systems and non-AM systems for the fabrication of porous ceramics is presented. The characteristic of porous ceramics produced by AM and non-AM systems are almost similar. Porous ceramic applications have been used as bone tissue supports, energy storage, filters, and catalyst support. This review will be a reference for future research related to the process of fabrication of advanced porous ceramics using the environmentally friendly gel casting method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]