Additive manufacturing or 3D printing technologies represent a promising market in the materials sector to realize adapted and functional parts. Additive manufacturing therefore has “real added value” compared to conventional processes (such as moulding) with capabilities to achieve shape complexity and functionality, keeping high accuracy ad surface finishing while reducing lead time, and material waste. One of the most widely used technologies is DLP(Digital Light Processing) or VAT polymarisation. Admatec develops and produces 3D printers based on this technology for printing ceramics and metals.

The Admaflex technology, based on DLP (Digital Light Processing) is using a mixture of photosensitive polymers and ceramic or metal powders, to produce high accurate parts thanks to pixel by pixel resolution. The key to achieve fully dense and fully functional parts is to find a balance between different factors, such as slurry viscosity, high solid load, powder properties (PSD, refractive index, absorption…), interaction with light. The right compromise is specific to each material.

In addition to standard oxide ceramics (alumina, zirconia, silica), Admatec has been interested in new materials for new applications. To increase the power density of SOFC systems, Dense thin electrolytes operating below 800°C are required. For this 8% yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) slurry was developed and printed by Admaflex technology using patented foil system-tape casting to produce > ? 80 mm discs with a thickness of 50 μm which is necessary to reach at 800 °C, a reasonable value of Area Specific Resistance ASR < 0.15 Ω cm².

Silica-based ceramic cores for investment casting are predominantly used in the gas turbine industry, but there is also a growing demand in the automotive market. For that, a new formulation has been developed, printed and sintered by Admatec. The composition was completely leachable with a strength of approximately 16 MPa and a roughness of 2 to 2.5 µm. The wall thickness achieved after sintering was 13 mm. These properties meet the requirements of these industrial markets.

While the monomers are in principle converted by curing into a large network of cross-linked polymer, the removal of this polymer sometimes remains tricky during the heat treatment. In order to have an easy thermal debinding system, Admatec has developed highly loaded ceramic slurry up to 55 v%. Despite the high viscosity of the slurry, demo parts were successfully printed using the patented foil system of Admatec printer. The results showed crack-free sintered parts with shrinkage of approximately 10%.

The potential of Admaflex technology is not limited to oxide ceramics, metals as well as non-oxide ceramics(SiC, WC) are developed by Admatec.