Combining Zirconia and Titanium Suboxides by Vat Photopolymerization

Abstract

A recently developed multi-ceramic additive manufacturing process (multi-CAMP) and an appropriate device offer a multi-material approach by vat photopolymerization (VPP) of multi-functionalized ceramic components. However, this process is limited to ceramic powders with a certain translucency for visible light. Electrically conductive ceramic powders are therefore ruled out because of their light-absorbing behavior and dark color. The goal of the collaborative work described in the article was to develop a material combination for this multi-material approach of the additive vat photopolymerization method which allows for combining electrical conductivity and electrical insulation plus high mechanical strength in co-sintered ceramic components. As conductive component titanium suboxides are chosen, whereas zirconia forms the mechanically stable and insulation part. Since titanium suboxides cannot be used for vat photopolymerization due to their light-absorbing behavior, titania is used instead. After additive manufacturing, the two-component parts are co-sintered in a reducing atmosphere to transform the titania into its suboxides and, thus, attaining the desired property combination. The article describes the challenges of the co-processing of both materials due to the complex optical properties of titania. Furthermore, the article shows successfully co-sintered testing parts of the material combination of zirconia/titanium suboxide which are made by assembling single-material VPP components in the green state and subsequent common thermal treatment. The results of microstructural and interface investigations such as electrical measurements are discussed.

Signal-Decay Based Approach for Visualization of Buried Defects in 3-D Printed Ceramic Components Imaged with Help of Optical Coherence Tomography

“…The samples were printed by two different printers, namely a lithography-based commercially available Lithoz printer and the Multi-CAMP system developed at KIMS [ 14 , 15 ]. Details of 3-D printing zirconia and titanium suboxides with the Lithoz printer can be found in [ 14 ]. A light of wavelength 405 nm and an intensity of 10 mW/cm 2 was used to cure TiO 2 and ZrO 2 slurries in the Multi-CAMP system.…”

“…It was decided that both materials should be co-processed by lithography-based additive manufacturing for increasing the geometrical freedom in the design of the manufactured component. Two lithography-based AM systems have been selected to print the test objects, namely a commercially available Lithoz printer [ 14 ] and the multi-ceramic additive manufacturing process (Multi-CAMP). The Multi-CAMP process has been developed at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Development of TiO2/ZrO2 Multi-Material Obtained from Ceramic Pastes for Material Extrusion

“…In the MCS3, the linear shrinkage deviation between TiO 2 and the 1-IL will be about 6%, while between 1-IL and 2-IL, it is 3%; between 2-IL and 3-IL, it is 2%; and between 3-IL and ZrO 2 , it is approximately 4%. It should be noted that the researchers who carried out a study of TiO 2 /ZrO 2 multi-ceramic samples utilizing the VP method determined a shrinkage difference of less than 1% [32]. Achieving this value using prepared ceramic pastes is not feasible, but the difference from the literature remains insignificant.…”

“…These samples exhibit cracks induced through residual stresses caused by thermodynamic factors. Eric Schwarzer-Fischer et al [32] examined a ZrO 2 /TiO 2 multi-ceramic for electrical and electronic engineering, in which TiO 2 and ZrO 2 were separately produced via VT and were co-sintered afterwards. Both Titania and Zirconia exhibit comparable sintering behavior and can be sintered under identical conditions.…”

“…MEX technology enables the successful production of ceramic and multi-ceramic products. Promising materials produced via MEX technology include TiO 2 and ZrO 2 , which can be used in for electrical and electronic engineering [32]. Research has been conducted into the production of these ceramics using MEX, and multi-material fabrication via VT was carried out.…”