This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Material Preparation Uniaxial Hydraulic Pressing Thermal Processing Sample Characterization Summary and Outlook

Many shaping technologies are considered for the production of advanced ceramics, like cold and hot isostatic pressing, uniaxial pressing, injection moulding, pressure casting, tape casting, etc. This paper presents a comparison of properties of advanced ceramics (using alumina as material for the comparison tests) formed by pressure casting, uniaxial hydraulic pressing and tape casting and gives some indication for proper selection of the most suitable shaping technique regarding requirements concerning dimensions and shape of products, product quality, throughput capacity, and economic aspects. Adequate firing technologies are also discussed. The results can help to design new plants as well as to optimize existing production facilities.

Uniaxial hydraulic pressing is the most common shaping technology for ceramic products. However, when production technologies for new advanced ceramic products with high quality requirements are discussed, in most cases this technology is considered to be only second choice. Other technologies like isostatic pressing, injection moulding, pressure casting, tape casting etc. seem to provide better quality products, even if they are more expensive, have much lower production capacities or are limited in other factors. The paper describes new possibilities for shaping of advanced ceramic products with a wide variety of dimensions and aspect ratios and high quality requirements. Recent developments in pressing technologies are shown and results of pressing tests for advanced ceramics are presented which demonstrate that highest quality can be achieved using uniaxial hydraulic presses. Finally, a selection of application examples is given, indicating advanced ceramic products already hydraulically pressed in industrial scale.