The European Ceramic Society
News
YCN Newsletter 15 :
Binder jetting of ceramic-based materials is a growing and interesting field of research.
As other indirect additive manufacturing techniques, binder jetting comprises a shaping phase (the actual 3D printing) obtained by binding of the feedstock with a liquid agent, followed by a series of thermal treatments promoting sintering. However, the main difference stands in the use of dry particles to form a powder bed, which leads to a series of advantages as complete design freedom, high process throughput and material versatiliy. On the other side, green density is usually low, which may hinder complete densification of the printed parts.
In my research path at Politecnico di Milano, I'm tackling with all the challenges related with the production of structural and functional ceramics, as alumina, piezoelectric alloys and cemented carbides. It is fascinating to observe how material composition, printing parameters and sintering conditions contribute synergically to the densification mechanisms and the final properties of the printed components.
Alumina cannot be fully densified by conventional means, but the technique as demonstrated the possibility of realising complex geometries with minimal effort, which could fit the production of catalyst supports, membrane, filters and so on. Various feedstock can be employed, as dense or granulated materials, leading to different features and distributions of the internal porosities.
Similar issues were observed with piezoceramics as KNN and PZT. In this case, strategies to control the residual porosity are being developed, with the aim of tuning the piezoelectric performances of the material. Indeed, porous piezoceramics are of great interest to many industrial sectors, and the possibility of producing complex geometries would be an invaluable advantage.
Cemented carbides, as WC in cobalt matrix, are materials designed for sintering processes, so their densification is rather simple. It was possible to achieve full density (>99%) and produce intricate designs typical of the industry with mechanical properties on par with the minimal standards required.
In conclusion, the versatility and the advantages of binder jetting make it an interesting option for manufacturing of complex-shaped ceramics. In the three years of my PhD project, I had the chance of working on many different topics and problems still to be solved, in collaboration with amazing friends from ISSMC of Faenza and CSIC-ICV of Madrid and many projects are on the horizon!
Figure 1 Components printed by binder jetting
Marco Mariani
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Politecnico di Milano
Milano (Italy)
Latest news
YCN Newsletter 27 - YCN Committee member - Welcome to Aleksandra Milojkovic
It is a true honor to introduce myself as the new Committee Member of the Young Ceramists Network.
YCN Newsletter 27 - Expert opinion - Nicola Döbelin, PhD
Why Crystal Structure Matters: Decoding the Performance of Calcium Phosphate Biomaterials
In the world of calcium phosphate biomaterials, crystal structure is often the silent driver behind a material’s success—or failure. Whether we are developing bone graft substitutes or studying bioceramic interactions at the tissue interface, understanding the underlying crystal lattice isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Information
Contact us for any information: info@ecers.org - We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.