PURPOSE: To manufacture ceramic balls of high mechanical strength at a high yield rate by freely falling slurry comprising ceramic raw material dispersed in a thermoplastic binder from a nozzle, forming the same into globular shape, cooling and solidifying in the air.
CONSTITUTION: Ceramic raw material is dispersed on a thermoplastic binder to prepare slurry. After said slurry is dripped down freely from a nozzle, the same is formed into globular shape by the action of surface tension, cooled, solidified and dried in the air, and calcined ceramic balls are manufactured. As said slurry is formed into globular shape almost round and the form is retained during and after calcining, no after-processing is required as is necessary in the conventional methods, which enhances manufacturing efficiency. As for the ceramic raw materials, such ceramics as alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, silicon nitride and the like can be used.
KATO YOSHIHISA
IMAI YOSHIHIKO
