Research on Rheology and Formability of SiO2Ceramic Slurry Based on Additive Manufacturing Technology via a Light Curing Method

Abstract

SiO2 ceramic parts with complex structures were formed by additive manufacturing technology via a light curing method combined with a heat treatment process. To reveal the influence mechanism of rheology and formability of SiO2 ceramic slurry, the microstructure, morphology, and properties of light-cured SiO2 ceramic samples were characterized by a viscosity test, thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a series of tests for physical properties (bending strength, mass burning rate, and densification). The results indicate that the main effect of the dispersant-type factor was more significant than the pH value. When the dispersant was ammonium polyacrylate (PMAA-NH4) with a content of 1.0 wt % and the pH value of the slurry system was 9, the viscosity of SiO2 ceramic slurry could be controlled to the lowest. It was also found that the sintering temperature in the experiment had no effect on the crystalline phase of SiO2 ceramics. When the sintering temperature was 1250 °C and the solid content was 65 vol %, the micromorphology of the samples was uniform. Under this condition, the bending strength of the sample reached 14.9 MPa and the densification was 76.43%.