Abstract
In order to develop silicon nitride porous bodies used for the Bio-Filter (the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria consortium supported by a ceramic porous body), suitable sintering aids were examined, which must inhibit densification. It was found that BaCO3, of which decomposition temperature was as high as 1,450 C, was suitable. The porosities of the porous bodies was around 40%, the pore diameter was in a sub-micrometer range (nano-pore), and their strengths were 200~300 MPa. By inserting PE meshes between the green sheets of Si3N4, micro-pores with ~100 micron pore diameter was successfully introduced, and it was found that their strength significantly lowered to around 50MPa.
