Combining several raw materials to obtain a ceramic composition involves up to five different and simultaneous steps: a) control of particle size distribution; b) chemical composition; c) surface area; d) density; and e) cost. This work presents a software developed for Windows environment in partnership with Alcoa Aluminum S.A., which controls all five referred parameters. It also contains an optimized routine that allows automatically combination of an unlimited number of raw materials to achieve a designed distribution, based on the minimum square difference. Experimental verification of the routine involved preparation of alumina suspensions using nine different particle size ranges, combined both in a conventional and in an automated manner to provide designed distributions (Alfred and Andreasen, q = 0.37). The routines efficiency was verified by the high speed of the automated formulation process and the rheological results obtained. Close rheological behavior were found out, pointing out the accuracy of both approaches.
