Cellular ceramic structures (CCSs) have promising application perspectives in various fields. Recently, additive manufacturing (AM), usually known as three-dimensional printing (3D printing), has been increasingly adopted to produce CCSs. Usually, the structural properties of additively manufactured cellular ceramic structures (AM-CCSs), i.e., lightweight characteristics, load-bearing capacity, toughness, unconventional properties, are traditionally investigated. Interestingly, AM technologies have a significant advantage in achieving the structure–function integration for CCSs. Functional properties, e.g., electromagnetic property, acoustic property, thermal property, of CCSs can be achieved during the structural design synchronously. In this review, firstly, the AM technologies for CCSs are comparatively introduced. Then, structural AM-CCSs are summarized. After that, structure–function integrated AM-CCSs are further introduced in detail. Finally, challenges and opportunities towards structure–function integrated AM-CCSs are forecasted. This review is believed to give some guidance for the research and development of CCSs. 

Additive manufacturing of cellular ceramic structures: from structure to structure-function integration

Additive manufacturing of metallic based on extrusion process: A review

Yttria (8 mol%) stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) photocurable slurry is the basis for stereolithography-based 3D (SLA) printed structured electrolyte support for monolithic solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack. The curing resin with trifunctional trimethylolpropane triacrylate and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (TMPTA/HDDA) mass ratio of 1.5:8.5 and 1 wt% of photoinitiator provided excellent curing performance and low viscosity of 2.1 mPa·s. Stable 8YSZ photocurable slurry possessing high solid content of 43 vol% and low viscosity of 3.6 Pa·s at 30 s−1 shear rate were obtained, without particle sedimentation after 180-day stability test. The activation energy of 8YSZ fabricated by 3D printing method was 0.87 eV, similar to that by dry-pressing method. The 3D printed monolithic 3-tube SOFC stack exhibited a peak power density of 230 mW·cm−2 at 850 °C. This research proves the great potential of 3D printing technology to prepare monolithic SOFC stack, paving the way to develop SOFCs for practical applications. 

A new and simple way to prepare monolithic solid oxide fuel cell stack by stereolithography 3D printing technology using 8 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia photocurable slurry

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) is an advantageous material due its unique combination of mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties both at ambient and elevated temperatures. Because of these properties there are a wide range of applications for Si3N4 components. Applications include heat exchangers, environmental barrier coatings, osteointegration scaffolds, radomes, and integrated circuitry. Such applications often require geometric complexity for efficient and/or effective operation. However, traditional ceramics processing methods such as hot-pressing or die extrusion are typically limited to simple axis-symmetric shapes. With the advent of additive manufacturing, there has been significant advancement into the forming of geometrically complex Si3N4 components. This review documents additive manufacturing advancements that have demonstrated, or are capable of, fabricating Si3N4 components with complex geometry. 

Review of additive manufacturing and densification techniques for the net- and near net-shaping of geometrically complex silicon nitride components

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) is an advantageous material due its unique combination of mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties both at ambient and elevated temperatures. Because of these properties there are a wide range of applications for Si3N4 components. Applications include heat exchangers, environmental barrier coatings, osteointegration scaffolds, radomes, and integrated circuitry. Such applications often require geometric complexity for efficient and/or effective operation. However, traditional ceramics processing methods such as hot-pressing or die extrusion are typically limited to simple axis-symmetric shapes. With the advent of additive manufacturing, there has been significant advancement into the forming of geometrically complex Si3N4 components. This review documents additive manufacturing advancements that have demonstrated, or are capable of, fabricating Si3N4 components with complex geometry.

A. Neveu

Papers

Densification behaviour and three-dimensional printing of Y2O3 ceramic powder by selective laser sintering