1. Silicon carbide ceramic indirect 3D printing technology
Silicon carbide ceramic indirect 3D printing technology is a ceramic parts printing technology based on digital model files. This technology uses printable materials such as ceramic powder, resin, etc. as the basic materials to realize the manufacture of three-dimensional objects by stacking them layer by layer. During the printing process, the ceramic powder is mixed with resin to form a printable ceramic slurry, which is printed layer by layer on the substrate through a printhead. After the printing is completed, it needs to be sintered at a certain temperature and pressure to form a dense sintered body between the ceramic particles.
2. Similarities and differences in the preparation of different sintering processes
(1)Atmospheric pressure sintering
Atmospheric pressure sintering refers to the sintering process that is carried out at normal atmospheric pressure. The method is simple and easy to operate, making it suitable for large-scale production. In the atmospheric pressure sintering process, the density of silicon carbide ceramics is high, but the sintering temperature is high, which is easy to lead to deformation and cracking of ceramics. In addition, atmospheric pressure sintering cycles are long, which requires a lot of time and energy.
(2)Vacuum sintering
Vacuum sintering refers to the sintering process that takes place in a vacuum. This method has a low sintering temperature and a short sintering time, which is suitable for the preparation of high-performance silicon carbide ceramics. Vacuum sintering can effectively control the atmosphere and pressure in the sintering process, avoid undesirable phenomena such as oxidation and volatilization, and improve the performance of silicon carbide ceramics. However, the cost of vacuum sintering equipment is high, and it is not suitable for large-scale production.
(3)Hot isostatic sintering
HIP sintering is a sintering method that is carried out at high temperature and high pressure. This method can significantly improve the densification and strength of silicon carbide ceramics, while avoiding deformation and cracking. HIP sintering equipment is costly, but it can achieve mass production and stable product quality. In addition, HIP sintering can also process products with complex shapes to meet the needs of different applications.
3.Conclusion
Silicon carbide ceramic indirect 3D printing technology has high manufacturing accuracy and flexibility, which can quickly manufacture ceramic parts with complex shapes. There are differences in the performance, densification degree, deformation and cracking of silicon carbide ceramics prepared by different sintering processes. In practical application, the appropriate sintering process should be selected according to factors such as product performance requirements and production scale. With the continuous development of 3D printing technology and material science, silicon carbide ceramic indirect 3D printing technology will be more widely used and developed in the future.
