3D Printed Ceramic Components

There are two methods in Additive Manufacturing of ceramics; the direct and the indirect fabrication. The direct fabrication produces a sintered ceramic part. This procedure does not require additional thermal processing. In direct fabrication the powder-based individual particles are connected by thermal energy from a laser.

Question: Surfaces of direct fabrication ceramic parts are:

In indirect Additive Manufacturing methods, the parts are created from ceramic powder and an organic binder. Once the parts are printed the organic components will need to be removed (debinded) and the inorganic particles will be sintered.

Question: In indirect fabrication the parts that have not been debinded and sintered yet are named:

Question: What is the most crucially important parameter during the Lithography-based Additive Manufacturing process?

Bioresorbable ceramics have been widely used to re-place human bone. The interior of the implants are usually made from beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), or another bioresorbable ceramic. For the exterior we often see the use of zirconia.

Question: What is main reason for using zirconia for the exterior?

Al2O3 is a good electrical insulator. But how about its thermal conductivity property?

Question: If you compare the thermal conductivity of Al2O3 to that of ZrO2, which material has a higher thermal conductivity?

With the Direct Ink Writing (DIW) method the performance of Al2O3 refractory products is influenced by the layer height. Decreasing the layer height may show an increased slag resistance and a higher flexural strength. However, lowering the layer height can also lead to an increased deviation in printing.

Question: What can be done to eliminate this increased deviation?

The green Al2O3 parts will go through a microstructural evolution during the sintering process. One of the things happening in parts sintered above 1450°C, is the vanishing of open pores (open pores vanish completely at 1550°C.)

Question: When the open pores within the partial sintered samples are eliminated or transformed into closed pores, the grain growth will: