Abstract:
3D printing of ceramics is fascinating owing to its tangible design, custom freedom, and excellent accuracy of laying printing ceramics. In recent years, Digital light processing (DLP), as a revolutionary technology, has revitalized interest for future advanced ceramics parts, owing to their inherent advantages such as faster printing rate and high resolution. Similar to stereolithography, DLP uses vat-photopolymerization followed by layer-upon-layer curing to create objects. Alumina-reinforced zirconia composite shows considerable promise for application, namely, aerospace, solid oxide fuel cells and biomedical parts. In this study, Al2O3 core, Zirconia, Kaolin and Alumina reinforced ceramics with complex shapes were successfully manufactured using DLP 3D processing. XRD, SEM, TG-DSC, and Nanoindentation probe characterization were employed to investigate the green body's phase composition, microstructure, thermal analysis, and hardness. The influence of low sintered temperature (1200 °C- 1660 °C) on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated. The physical properties were investigated, including shrinkage, weight loss, water absorption, porosity, and density. Results revealed density (96.4 %) and flexural strength and shrinkage were drastically exceeded with increased sintering temperature, but porosity and water absorption decreased. We demonstrated the successful fabrication of complex shapes of aerospace parts, as well as green body parts. Our findings will open windows of opportunity for the potential usage of ceramics for industrial applications.