Evaluation of the effect of mineralizing additives on the production of dense ceramic parts via additive manufacturing

• Grant number: 23/08728-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Paula da Luz
• Grantee: Pedro Lucas Albuquerque Alves
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The fabrication of complex ceramic parts has been facilitated by advances in additive manufacturing techniques, and those based on vat photopolymerization are gaining ground in the field of ceramic materials. In this context, the digital light processing (DLP) method stands out due to its printing speed and resolution. However, the main challenge for the implementation of this technique is the development of photopolymerizable ceramic suspensions with high solids concentration (>40% vol) and low viscosity (<3 Pa.s). The production of dense ceramic samples via DLP also requires careful post-processing steps. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the effect of two mineralizing additives (Nb2O5 and TiO2) on the production of photopolymerizable alumina suspensions and the densification process of samples produced using the DLP method and a commercial printer. The formulations will consist of fine aluminas, polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) as a monomer, and additives. Thermogravimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, viscosity and stability measurements of the suspensions, mechanical strength, porosity, and microstructural analysis of the test specimens before and after firing will be performed to characterize the raw materials and ceramic products. The goal is to develop stable suspensions with suitable rheology for printing high-quality parts that, after sintering, exhibit optimized microstructures and high relative density (>90%).

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ALVES, P. L. A.; CAMARGO, I. L.; VERZA, J. R.; LUZ, A. P.. Impact of debinding atmosphere and sintering additives on the fabrication of alumina ceramics via vat photopolymerization. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 51, n. 7, p. 10-pg., 2025-02-28. (23/08728-5, 24/04483-0)