Fatemeh Sarhadi - Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan andBaluchestan, Zahedan, Iran,
Mahdi Shafiee Afarani - Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan andBaluchestan, Zahedan, Iran,
Davod Mohebbi-Kalhori - Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan andBaluchestan, Zahedan,Iran
Masoud Shayesteh - Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan andBaluchestan, Zahedan,Iran

In this study, fabrication of porous alumina supports with specific orientation and anisotropicproperties are considered. Samples with double shape architecture, oriented and rounded pores,were prepared; using the alumina and silica as starting materials by slip casting route. Milledpolyurethane foam and fibers were applied as replica materials as well. The effect of fiber typeand size on the microstructure and size of the pores was studied. Moreover, different parameterssuch as porosity, density, orientation, bending strength and compressive strength of the sampleswere investigated. Results showed that various fibers with different diameters led to formingpores with different pore sizes, microstructure and consequently, changes in physical andmechanical properties such as density, porosity, compressive and bending strength. In addition,the simultaneous presence of fibers and particles led to more porous samples. The porousstructure of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Orientedtiny micro-tube and rounded pores were observed in all porous ceramic supports. Mechanicaltesting showed anisotropy in mechanical behaviors such that higher strengths were observed inoriented pore direction than transverse direction

Alumina; Porosity; Oriented pores; Rounded pores; Slip casting