Binder jetting 3D printing process optimization for rapid casting of green parts with high tensile strength

Binder jetting 3D printing is a rapid, cost effective, and efficient moulding/core making process, which can be applied to a large variety of materials. However, it exhibits a relatively low green-part strength. This may cause the collapse of the printed parts during de-caking and the pick-up procedure, especially in the case of small-scale structures, such as thin walls, tips, and channels. In this work, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as the additive in coated sand powder. By exploiting the binding effect between the two composites (thermoplastic phenolic resin and PVA) triggered by the binder, bonding necks firmly form among the sand particles, improving the green-part strength of the coated sand printed parts. Experiments based on the Taguchi method were used to investigate the relationship between the process parameters and the green-part tensile strength. The following set of optimal process parameters was identified: 50wt.% alcoholicity of the binder, 75% binder saturation, 0.36 mm layer thickness and 4.5wt.% PVA content. Further, the effect of such parameters on the green-part tensile strength was determined via statistical analysis. The green part of an engine cylinder head sand pattern with complex cavity structures was printed, and the green-part tensile strength reached 2.31 MPa. Moreover, the ZL301 aluminum alloy impeller shape casting was prepared using sand molds printed with the optimal process parameters. The results confirm that the proposed binder jetting 3D printing process can guarantee the integrity of the printed green parts and of small-size structures during decaking and the pick-up procedure. Furthermore, the casting made from the printed sand molds exhibits a relatively high quality.