Porous ceramics formed using starch consolidation

Porous alumina bodies have been prepared with between 15 and 45% porosity using rice, com or potato starch as a combined consolidating agent and pore former. Rice starch produces the finest pores but agglomerates more easily and produces less robust green bodies. Porosity is primarily dependent upon starch content, but is also influenced by processing parameters. The strength drops with increasing porosity, but remains as high as 100MPa at 40% porosity.