Influence of Debinding Process on the Properties of Photopolymerization 3D Printed Cordierite Ceramics

doi:10.15541/jim20210624

Abstract

Abstract:

Photopolymerization 3D printing method is an effective means for the manufacturing of ceramics with highly complex-shaped structures and exceptional performance. The printed samples need to undergo heat treatment such as debinding and sintering before becoming usable final ceramic parts in various industrial applications, and the debinding process has a great impact on the properties of the printed ceramic parts. In this study, effect of the debinding process on physical properties and mechanical performance of the cordierite ceramics prepared by DLP photopolymerization 3D printing was studied, and defect suppression strategy was established accordingly. The effects of debinding atmosphere and heating rate on surface cracks and material elemental distribution of ceramic samples were compared and analyzed. The microstructure, size shrinkage, relative density, and mechanical performance such as bending strength of the sintered samples were also studied. It is found that the debinding atmosphere has the most significant influence on the properties of the sintered samples, in which the surface cracks can be significantly reduced, and the relative density, and bending strength can be increased when the debinding process is conducted in argon atmosphere at the optimized heating rate of 1 ℃/min. After debinding and sintering, the cordierite ceramic samples with a relative density of (94.6±0.3)% and a bending strength of (94.3±3.2) MPa was obtained. In conclusion, this study provides a scientific basis and technical reference for fabrication and application of cordierite ceramics based on photopolymerization 3D printing method.

Key words: cordierite ceramic, photopolymerization 3D printing, debinding, sintering, properties

CLC Number:

TQ174

ZHU Junyi, ZHANG Cheng, LUO Zhongqiang, CAO Jiwei, LIU Zhiyuan, WANG Pei, LIU Changyong, CHEN Zhangwei. Influence of Debinding Process on the Properties of Photopolymerization 3D Printed Cordierite Ceramics[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(3): 317-324.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Working principle of DLP 3D printing technology

Fig. 2 TG/DSC curves, debinding and sintering curves of printed cordierite green body (a) TG/DSC curves; (b) Debinding curve; (c) Sintering curve

Fig. 3 Surface macro-graphs of sample after debinding at different heating rates In air: (a) 0.1 ℃/min; (b) 0.5 ℃/min; (c) 1 ℃/min; (d) 3 ℃/min; (e) 5 ℃/min; In argon: (f) 0.1 ℃/min; (g) 0.5 ℃/min; (h) 1 ℃/min; (i) 3 ℃/min; (j) 5 ℃/min

Fig. 4 Element analysis of sample after debinding in air (a) SEM image; EDS mappings of (b) Al, (c) Mg, (d) O and (e) Si; (f) EDS spectrum

Fig. 5 Element analysis after debinding in argon (a) SEM image; EDS mappings of (b) Al, (c) Mg, (d) C and (e) O; (f) Si; (g) EDS spectrum

Fig. 6 Micrographs of sample surfaces after debinding in argon(a) 0.1 ℃/min; (b) 0.5 ℃/min; (c) 1 ℃/min; (d) 3 ℃/min; (e) 5 ℃/min

Fig. 7 Properties of samples after debinding in different atmospheres followed by sintering (a) Shrinkage rate-debinding in air; (b) Shrinkage rate-debinding in argon; (c) Relative density; (d) Bending strength

Fig. 8 Final cordierite ceramics prepared with optimized debinding scheme followed by sintering (a, b) Dense rectangular sample; (c) Honeycomb structures with complex inter-crossing channels

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