Colloidal processing of ceramics is intended to fabricate complex shaped ceramic materials and composites of tailored properties and microstructure. It is principally required to use effectively working processing additives, such as: deflocculants, binders, organic monomers, (photo)initiators of polymerization, plasticizers, surfactants, pore-formers, etc. The main challenge of colloidal processing of ceramics lies in achieving time-stable, low viscosity aqueous suspensions having high solid loading of well dispersed non-agglomerated particles. Thus, processing agents should accomplish these demanded properties as well as they should realize the trend of “green chemistry”. Possibilities of using different organic additives in processing of ceramics will be presented (water-based synthetic monomers, sugar-based and polymeric deflocculants, polyacrylic binders, photoinitiators of different spectral characteristics, etc.). The following issues will be also discussed: multifunctionality of selected compounds, thermal decomposition of additives during sintering of ceramics, preparation of low-viscosity suspensions containing high concentration of nanopowders, fabrication of ceramic-matrix-composites of uniform microstructure, improvement of binders flexibility.
 
This work has been financially supported by Warsaw University of Technology.