Porous magnesium aluminate ceramics were produced with a sintering process of α-Al2O3 and MgO. Up to 20% by weight of corn starch were used as a pore-forming agent. Pellets were prepared by powder metallurgy technique and produced by solid-state sintering route. The porosity of the sintered pellets was characterized with and without adding corn starch, respectively. In particular, the effects of corn starch additive on density, porosity, and microstructure were investigated. Almost full density

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... was obtained in the samples without starch addition. The study results showed that corn starch addition increased the porosity of the sintered samples. Maximum porosity of 47.86 % was achieved with the addition of 20 wt. % corn starch of 1400°C sintering temperature.