Lithography-based additive manufacturing of ceramics: Materials, applications and perspectives

Lithography-based additive manufacturing methods emerged as a powerful method for manufacturing of complex-shaped ceramic parts with excellent functional and structural properties. This paper summarizes the current state of the art in this field by articulating technological challenges associated with printing of functional parts. In addition, the paper addresses process requirements towards further enhancing component quality. A key aspect for obtaining high-quality parts is related to controlling chemical composition and uniformity of the photopolymerizable slurries. The latter requires in-depth understanding of the underlying photochemical processes. Changes in the formulation of the resin as well as changes in the exposure strategy distinctly influence bond conversion and gelling, which, in turn, influence the properties of the green part during thermal processing. Properly optimized processes and material composition allow to target a variety of challenging applications including patient specific parts for digital dentistry, and 3D-printed ceramics which can operate in harsh environments, as may be required in aerospace or chemical engineering applications. The paper will also provide an outlook into novel opportunities for 3D-printed ceramics.