The presentation will provide insights into the development of binder jet 3D printing for reaction-bonded silicon carbide beginning with first bench scale tests, to the development of process and material properties as well as quality assurance measures for series production.   
Binder Jetting, frequently simply referred to as three-dimensional printing, is one of the most efficient additive manufacturing technologies to create large and complex shaped ceramic parts. It enables the production of prototypes as well as final products, which may not be realized by conventional shaping techniques due to geometrical limitations. One main drawback of the technology is the immanent porosity of printed green bodies, due to dry powder deposition methods. This, as well as the comparatively large particle size, usually prevents the creation of parts with material properties which are technically sufficient.  
In contrast to the vast majority of technical ceramics, powder bed porosity is not an obstacle for the production of components made of reaction-bonded silicon carbide (RBSiC). Instead a porous network is a prerequisite for the liquid silicon infiltration (LSI) process which follows the creation of green bodies. However, green part porosity as well as microstructural inhomogeneity have to be kept on a very low level to be able to produce technical components by binder jetting.
Today we can exploit process-related advantages of additive manufacturing providing a new dimension of constructive design potentials and address demanding market segments of lithography, metrology and thermal process technology.