Method of producing ceramic

Abstract

A ceramic powder of grains having a shape-anisotropy is mixed with a calcined or uncalcined (or both) powder of a ceramic raw material. A ceramic slurry containing the produced mixed powder, a solvent and a binder is prepared and the ceramic slurry is formed into a sheet. A laminate comprising a plurality of the sheets laminated to each other is uniaxially pressed to form an oriented product in such a manner that the length of the laminate in the direction parallel to the pressing axis becomes larger than that before the pressing, and the area of a plane perpendicular to the pressing axis of the laminate becomes larger than that before the pressing. The oriented formed product is fired and sintered.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a ceramic comprising: 
 preparing a ceramic slurry comprising a powder of ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy mixed with a ceramic raw material powder or a calcined ceramic raw material powder, or both;    forming the ceramic slurry to produce a sheet product;    uniaxially pressing the sheet product so that the length of the product in the direction parallel to the pressing axis is decreased compared to that before the pressing, and the area of a plane perpendicular to the pressing axis of the product is increased compared to that before the pressing, whereby an oriented formed product is produced; and    sintering the oriented formed product.    
     
     
         2 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressing is such that the length of the oriented formed product in the direction parallel to the pressing axis is decreased up to about half of the length of the product before pressing.  
     
     
         3 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 2 , wherein the amount of the ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy are in the range of about 25 to 52% by weight based on 100% by weight of the mixed powder.  
     
     
         4 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 3 , wherein the ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy are flat, and the aspect ratio is in the range of about 4 to 10.  
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 4 , wherein the aspect ratio is in the range of about 5 to 10.  
     
     
         6 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 5 , wherein the amount of the ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy are in the range of about 45 to 50% by weight based on 100% by weight of the mixed powder.  
     
     
         7 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy are in the range of about 25 to 52% by weight based on 100% by weight of the mixed powder.  
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy are flat, and the aspect ratio is in the range of about 4 to 10.  
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy are flat, and the aspect ratio is in the range of about 5 to 10.  
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy are in the range of about 45 to 50% by weight based on 100% by weight of the mixed powder.  
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the powder mixture is of ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy mixed with a ceramic raw material powder.  
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the powder mixture is of ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy mixed with a calcined ceramic raw material powder.  
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a ceramic according to  claim 1 , wherein the powder mixture is of ceramic crystal grains having a shape-anisotropy mixed with a calcined ceramic raw material powder and a ceramic raw material powder.