Ink-jet printing and sintering of PZT

Suspensions of Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O-3 (PZT)-5H powders, with solid contents up to 40 vol% in a paraffin oil/wax medium using a mixed polyester and amine dispersant system, have been prepared for ink-jet printing. Sufficient suspension stability for printing requires a sub-micron particle distribution, and this could only be achieved by attrition milling the as-received powder. The influence of printing parameters on drop velocity is shown to be consistent with simple physical models of the behavior of the suspensions. Trial objects have been fabricated with 35% PZT suspensions. These have been sintered to full density, with porosity less than 1% and without significant distortion, despite a mean linear shrinkage measured at 25%.