Evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties of stereolithography formed alumina cores sintered in vacuum

Alumina Ceramics for Armor Protection via 3D Printing Using Different Monomers

Alumina ceramic is an ideal candidate for armor protection, but it is limited by the difficult molding or machining process. Three-dimensional printing imparts a superior geometric flexibility and shows good potential in the preparation of ceramics for armor protection. In this work, alumina ceramics were manufactured via 3D printing, and the effects of different monomers on the photosensitive slurry and sintered ceramics were investigated. The photosensitive slurries using dipropylene glycol diacrylate (DPGDA) as a monomer displayed the optimal curing performance, with a low viscosity, small volume shrinkage and low critical exposure energy, and each of the above properties was conducive to a good curing performance in 3D printing, making it a suitable formula for 3D-printed ceramic materials. In the 3D-printed ceramics with DPGDA as a monomer, a dense and uniform microstructure was exhibited after sintering. In comparison, the sample with trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) showed an anisotropic microstructure with interlayer gaps and a porosity of about 9.8%. Attributed to the dense uniform microstructure, the sample with DPGDA exhibited superior properties, including a relative density of 97.5 ± 0.5%, a Vickers hardness of 19.4 ± 0.8 GPa, a fracture toughness of 2.6 ± 0.27 MPa·m1/2, a bending strength of 690 ± 54 MPa, and a dynamic strength of 3.7 ± 0.6 GPa at a strain rate of 1200 s-1.

Photopolymerization of Ceramic Resins by Stereolithography Process: A Review

Stereolithography is known as one of the best Additive Manufacturing technologies in terms of geometrical and dimensional precision for polymeric materials. In recent years, a lot of studies have shown that the creation of ceramic resins, through a particular combination of monomeric components and ceramic powders, allows to obtain complex shape geometries thanks to the photopolymerization process. This review highlights the characteristics and properties of ceramic resins, peculiarities of the ceramic stereolithography processes, up to the relationship between the composition of the ceramic resin and the complexity of the post-processing phases. The comparison of different studies allows outlining the most common steps for the production of ceramic resins, as well as the physical and chemical compatibility of the different compounds that must be studied for the good feasibility of the process.

Effects of Solvent Debinding on the Microstructure and Properties of 3D-Printed Alumina Ceramics

Solvents assist in the debinding of stereolithography-based 3D-printed alumina green bodies. The green bodies subsequently undergo thermal debinding and sintering to obtain alumina ceramics. In this study, several solvents were tested, including polyethylene glycol, oxalic acid, ammonium hydroxide, ethyl alcohol, methyl methacrylate, butyl acetate, dimethyl carbonate, methanol, ethyl acetate, and sec-butyl alcohol. The tested solvents during the debinding process showed different effects on microstructure and properties of 3D-printed alumina ceramics due to the variable aspects of their solubility toward the binders. The microstructure of the samples changed significantly after green bodies underwent solvent debinding, thermal debinding, and sintering, leading to loose spongy structures, porous aggregates, and compact structures, respectively. Shrinkage, bulk density, and open porosity changed slightly due to the debinding function of different solvents. Polyethylene glycol-impregnated samples displayed the minimum shrinkage in length direction (5.3%). Ethyl alcohol-impregnated sample showed minimum shrinkage in width (4.8%) and height (11.5%) directions. Ammonium hydroxide-impregnated samples exhibited minimum bulk density (2.8 g/cm3) and maximum open porosity (28.3%). Dimethyl carbonate-impregnated samples presented minimum flexural strength (32.6 MPa), and oxalic acid-impregnated samples revealed maximum flexural strength (63.4 MPa). In sum, the as-obtained ceramics would be used as ceramic cores for hollow blades in aircraft engines due to their high open porosity and moderate flexural strength.