Research progress in photopolymerization-based 3D printing technology of ceramics

Abstract

The historical evolution, the latest research progress and the related industrial status of equipment development of the three major photopolymerization-based ceramic 3D printing technologies were reviewed, i.e. stereolithography (SL), digital light processing (DLP) and two-photon polymerization (TPP). The characteristics of feedstock materials, printing process, post-treatments and final ceramic properties were summarized and discussed.Meanwhile,some of the issues and challenges such as incapability of mass production and low efficiency persist, and high-end industrial application scenarios of printed parts still need to be excavated. Therefore, new materials, new theories and new technologies regarding ceramic photopolymerization-based 3D printing should be further developed in order to seek for efficiency and application breakthroughs. Finally, it was suggested that structural-functional integral/gradient manufacturing and multi-material/multi-process comprehensive and efficient manufacturing are the important development directions of ceramic 3D printing technology in the future.

Keywords

• ceramic
• photopolymerization
• 3d printing
• additive manufacturing
• stereolithography
• dig-ital light processing
• two-photon polymerization