Nanocomposites and nanomaterials 
Study of mechanical characteristics of ceramic membrane supports
Serhiienko A.O.1, Pylypenko I.V.2, Dontsova T.A.1
1 Department of Technology of Inorganic Substances, Water Treatment and General Chemical Technology, 
2 Department of Chemical Technology of Ceramics and Glass,
National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”. Peremohy avenue, 37, Kyiv-03056, Ukraine.
E-mail: allasergienko706@gmail.com 

Interest in ceramic membranes as membrane water treatment methods is increasing every year due to their high strength, thermal stability, chemical resistance, resistance to abrasive particles, easy cleaning by back-flushing, and long service life. One of the main parts of ceramic membranes is the support layer, which determines the mechanical strength of the membrane.
The aim of the research is to investigate the effect of the sintering temperature and the different content of silicon carbide on the mechanical strength of ceramic membrane supports based on flexural strength.
By changing the silicon carbide content (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%, respectively) series of ceramic membrane supports were synthesised. The series of samples were prepared by dry pressing followed by sintering at different temperatures, such as 800 ℃, 950 ℃ and 1100 ℃.
The flexural strength was determined in accordance with ISO 14704:2006 Fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, technical ceramics).
It was found that an increase in the sintering temperature from 800 ℃ to 1100 ℃ leads to a logical increase in the flexural strength. An increase in silicon carbide content also causes an increase in flexural strength for all the samples tested. The increase in strength, in this case, may be due to the formation of calcium silicate phases formed after the decomposition of silicon carbide and calcium carbonate. It is determined that the optimum silicon carbide content is 20% for sintering temperatures up to 950 ℃. The results indicate an increase in the flexural strength when the sintering temperature is increased from 800 ℃ to 1100 ℃. Established that the optimum sintering temperature for maximum strength values is in the range of 1000-1100 ℃.