Japanese version is here.

It is considered that a key technology is the forming to realize high performance ceramics, because the raw materials are composed of sold particles and essentially show no plasticity. For structural ceramics, it is desired to develop low-cost, near-net, high-reliable and complicated shape forming technology. On the other hand, it is necessary for high-performance ceramic devices to develop multi-layered and hybrid sheet forming of functional ceramics. In the ceramic processing laboratory, ceramic technology department, high-technology for ceramic forming is being studied through an interdisciplinary studies among ceramics, plastic manufacturing, rheology, clay science, fluid dynamics, polymer science and so on.

1. Forming Technology for fine Ceramics for Application to Traditional Ceramic Forming
2. Study on the Processing and Forming of Ceramics
3. Study on the Systematizing of Traditional Ceramics Technology

　　　　　　(Chief) Akihiro TSUZUKI E-mail.atsuzuki@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Hajime NAGAE E-mail.hnagae@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Kenichi NAKANO E-mail.kenakano@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Saburo SANO E-mail.sano@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Sadako INAGAKI E-mail.sinagaki@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Riichi KUROKAWA E-mail.kurokawa@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Takumi BANNO E-mail.banno@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Yuuji HOTTA E-mail.yhotta@nirin.go.jp

　　　　　　 Jyunji TSUBOI E-mail.jtsuboi@nirin.go.jp

1. Forming Technology for fine Ceramics for Application to Traditional Ceramic Forming
   
   "Forming Technology for fine Ceramics for Application to Traditional Ceramic Forming", one of the Special Regional Technology Development, which is supported by AIST. The purpose is to develop low-cost and environmentally friendly forming technologies for small and medium enterprises. The forming method includes slip casting, wet-pressing, extrusion and dry-pressing in the system of water and solids. This project is being carried out by NIRIN, Wet-Forming Technology R & D Association and a group of prefectural research institutes. The association is organized with INAX, YKK, Toyo-Denka, Nikko and Japan Pottery Manufacturer's Federation. In this project, high-density and high-strength ceramics, silicon nitride, high-purity alumina, low-soda alumina, zirconia and silicon carbide, were successfully fabricated via. pressure-assisted slip casting. The silicon nitride ceramics showed a flexural strength of 1.1GPa and a Weibull modulus of 14. In addition, a two-dimensional computer simulation method for the slip casting was developed, and a good agreement was observed between the simulation and experimental results. This simulation method is expected to be useful for mold design and control of cake thickness. With regard to the plastic forming, engineering ceramics, silicon nitride, zirconia and low soda alumina, were fabricated by using a bio-derivative plasticizer. This forming method is available to wet-pressing and provides a low-cost forming technology. Furthermore, the evaluation method of ceramic green body is being studied and is applicable to clay green bodies.
   
   Two-dimensional computer simulation method for the slip casting
   Recent results
   
   1)S.Sano, T.Banno, K.Oda, and Y.Sibasaki, "Slip Casting and Sintering of Silicon Carbide (Part 1)", 104, 984-88(1996)
   2)T.Banno, S.Sano, S.Shibasaki, and K.Oda, "Uniaxial Compression Test of Kaolinitic Clays", J. Ceram. Soc. Jpn., 105, 1131-35(1997)
   3)K.Oguri, H.Fujimoto, K.Mizushima, T.Banno, S.Sano, S.Shibasaki, and K.Oda, "Measurement of the Rheological Characteristics of Kaolinitic Clay by a Capillary Viscometer", Proc. 14th Inter. Japan-Korea Seminar on Ceramics, 378-82(1997)
   4)T.Banno, S.Sano, and K.Oda, "Two-Dimensional Simulation of Cake Growth in Slip Casting", J. Am. Ceram. Soc., in press (1998)
   

2. Study on the Processing and Forming of Ceramics
   
   Basic studies concerning the production technology of structural ceramics and engineering ceramic parts are under way. Furthermore, a recycling technology is developed to utilize mining and industrial wastes to valuable ceramics.

   Recent results
   
   1)K.Oda, J.Tsuboi, M.Goto, T.Bannno, S.Sano, and Y.Hotta, "Utilization of Kita-Ena(Sakaori) Pottery Stone", Rep. of NIRIN, in press (1997)
   2)T.Banno, S.Sano, Y.Hotta, S.Shibasaki, and K.Oda, "One-Dimensional Computer Simulation of Compressible Cake Grwoth in Slip Casting", Proc. 14th Inter. Japan-Korea Seminar on Ceramics, 371-77(1997)
   

3. Study on the Systematizing of Traditional Ceramics Technology
   
   The purpose of the study is to systematically compile the transition of the traditional ceramics technology and industrial policy of Japan from the Meiji period downward. The technology is concerned with raw materials, forming, firing, glaze, enamel, mold-materials and products. Moreover, another purpose is to construct "ceramic color database" for public use, as NIRIN owns about 150,000 ceramic-color test-pieces fabricated in a course of 75 years.