  Texture in dense or porous ceramics can enhance their functional and
structural properties. Current methods for texturation employ anisotropic
particles as starting powders and processes that drive their orientation into
specific directions. Using ultra-low magnetic fields combined with slip
casting, it is possible to purposely orient magnetically responsive particles
in any direction. When those particles are suspended with nanoparticles,
templated grain growth occurs during sintering to yield a textured ceramic.
Yet, the final grains are usually micrometric, leading weak mechanical
properties. Here, we explore how to tune the grain orientation size using
magnetic slip casting and templated grain growth. Our strategy consists in
changing the size of the anisotropic powders and ensuring that magnetic
alignment and densification occurs. The obtained ceramics featured a large
range of grain anisotropy, with submicrometric thickness and anisotropic
properties. Textured ceramics with tunable grains dimensions and porosity are
promising for filtering, biomedical or composite applications.
