Effect of minor binder on capillary structure evolution during wicking

Abstract

The wax-based binder system showed discrete transition behavior in capillary structure during debinding due to the rapid redistribution of major binder, e.g. paraffin wax. Depending on the minor binder added, the transition behavior in capillary structure was significantly altered presumably due to the difference in chemical compatibility between major and minor binders. Limited chemical compatibility between major and minor binders might promote the funicular to pendular transition because of the segregation of polar minor binder in the nonpolar paraffin wax matrix. It was also demonstrated that the thermal pyrolysis should be initiated with increased temperature just past the funicular to pendular transition point in order to reduce the total debinding time. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.