Ceramic slurries for additive manufacturing of technical ceramics by injection molding
The usage of traditional ceramic injection molding CIM slurries with 3D printed durable and/or water soluble sacrificial molds has unique benefits in comparison to direct printing of ceramic slurries based on photopolymer resins, to say:
- full range of technical ceramics and metals slurries can be cast using traditional CIM and MIM feedstocks
- higher sintering density, lower microporosity vs metal Selective Laser Sintering SLS and direct printing of ceramics and metals by SLA and jetting
- less productive limitations, much faster and ecological debinding without solvents, with water for faster debinding and sintering times without limitation of thickness vs. ceramic and metal printing by SLA and jetting
- increased isotropy vs metal Selective Laser Sintering SLS and direct printing of ceramics and metals by SLA and jetting
- lower costs since our soluble 3D resins allow the printing of sacrificial or durable molds with affordable SLA, DLP and LCD printers with prices ranging from 300 to 10,000 Euros and with traditional injection molding machines and traditional ceramic and metal feedstocks
Traditional Ceramic Slurries with these features and benefits can be injected in 3D printed molds made with our durable and/or water soluble sacrifical 3D resins:
- excellent dispersion and injection flow of high micron and submicron ceramics with additions up to 65% volumen concentrations
- very high resolution after injection in durable or water based sacrificial injection molds
- high quality
- controlled and reproducible process shrinkage
- minimum expansion coefficient and wide temperature interval of debinding to prevent micro-fractures
- very high resolution of 20 microns of final products
- controlled shrinkage
Typical properties of Sintered Ceramics
Material |
Density (g/cm3) |
Flexural Strength (MPa) |
Fracture Toughness (MPa√m) |
Vickers Hardness (HV) GPa |
Melting Temperature ºC |
Sintering Temperature ºC |
Properties and Benefits |
Alumina Al2O3 |
3.8-3.9 |
350-600 |
4-6 |
15-20 |
2000 |
1100-1300 air |
Excellent thermal stability, wear resistance, low electrical conductivity (electrical insulator), high chemical and corrosión resistance, good mechanical strength up to 1000ºC, high expansion coefficient, thermal shock resistance
|
Zirconia ZrO2 |
5.8-6 |
400-900 |
6-7 |
10-15 |
2700 |
1450-1500 air |
High strength, fracture toughness, hardness, wear resistance, good frictional behaviour, non-magnetic, electrical insulation, low thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance in acids and alkalis, modulus of elasticity similar to steel, coefficient of thermal expansion similar to iron |
Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ/Y-TZP) |
- |
900-1200 |
9-10 |
12-13 |
2400-2700 |
1450-1500 air |
Outstanding hardness, strength and fracture toughness, excellent chemical and wear resistance Used in many high wear applications: dental, engineering, microreactors, equipment, |
Silicon carbide SiC/SiSiC |
3.1-3.2 |
350-800 |
4-5-5 |
18-22 |
2700 decomposes |
1200-1450, up to 2200°C, Ar, N2 or similar inert atmosphere |
Outstanding thermal shock resistance, extreme hardness, high thermal conductivity, low expansion coefficient, semiconductor, high oxidation resistance, refractive index greater than a diamond. Typical operating temperatures 1000-1500ºC |
Silicon niride Si3N4 |
3.1-3.3 |
700-900 |
6-7 |
13-20 |
1900 decomposes |
1100-1450, up to 1700, air |
High strength, low electrical and thermal conductivity (electrical insulator), high resistance to molten metals, excellent thermal shock resistance, high wear resistance Used in many dielectric heating or RF (radio frequency) heating applications where the material is in contact with hot metal parts and in automotive and machine tool industries for bearing and wear parts which run in abrasive environments. |
Hydroxy apatite HA |
2.5-2,6 |
21 |
1-2 |
5 |
800-1200 decomposes |
1200-1250, air |
Chemically similar to the mineral component of bones and hard tissues in mammals, classed as bioactive and biocompatible, supports bone ingrowth and osseointegration when used in prosthetics, orthopaedic, dental and maxillofacial applications |
Material |
Properties and Benefits |
Main Applications |
Alumina Al2O3 |
High hardness and mechanical strength under compressive loading, excellent thermal stability, wear resistance, low electrical conductivity ( high frequency electrical insulator), high temperature, chemical and corrosion resistance, good mechanical strength up to 1000ºC, high expansion coefficient, thermal shock resistance, excellent wear resistance, good anti-plasma |
Excellent electric insulator products, sand and shot blasting nozzles, welding shield and nozzles for laser cutting guns, tubes with single hole to multi core/hole cavities, seals, textile wear parts and thread guides, piston and sleeves for chemical pumps, corrosion resistance components, ceramic coldplate for power electronic cooling, heating element fixtures, surgical instruments |
Zirconia ZrO2 |
High hardness, mechanical strength and toughness, fracture toughness, hardness, wear resistance, good frictional behaviour, non-magnetic, electrical insulation, low thermal conductivity, , modulus of elasticity similar to steel, coefficient of thermal expansion similar to iron, excellent wear resistance, high fracture toughness, low thermal conductivity, good chemical and corrosion resistance in acids and alkalis |
Pump parts, dies, knives, cutting blades, spikes, scissors, wear parts for wear applications, valves and pump components,ceramic plain, balls and roller bearings, tubes, fixtures for high temperature applications, copper tube extruding & reducer diez, thermal insulation components, wear resistance and cutting blades, Dental restorations and appliances, fuel cell components, structural ceramics |
Yttria stabilized zirconia YSZ/Y-TZP |
Outstanding hardness, strength and fracture toughness, excellent chemical and wear resistance
|
Used in many high wear applications, dental restorations: crowns, copings and bridges, engineering, microreactors, analyitic equipment |
Silicon carbide SiC/SiSiC |
High hardness, good room and high temperature and strength, outstanding thermal shock resistance, extreme hardness, high thermal and electrical conductivity, low expansion coefficient, semiconductor,high oxidation resistance, refractive index greater than a diamond, operating temperatures 1100-1500ºC, high temperature strength, high chemical and corrosión resistance, high fracture toughness,
|
High temperature resistant parts, mechanical seals, sliding bearings, mechanical seals for chemical pumps, wear parts such as thread guides, Kiln furniture crucibles, burners for high temperature furnaces, sand blasting nozzles, heat exchangers tubes, emiconductor parts, wafer processing plates & discs components |
Silicon nitride Si3N4 |
High strength, low electrical and thermal conductivity (electrical insulator), high resistance to molten metals, excellent thermal shock resistance, high wear resistance, high temperature strength, excellent thermal shock resistance, wear resistance, light weight (low density), chemical resistance, good fracture toughness, mechanical fatigue, excellent compressive strength and creep resistance, excellent non-wetting property with good oxidation resistance
|
Dielectric heating or RF (radio frequency) heating applications in tool industries for bearing and wear parts engines in abrasive environments, antiwear liner, powder equipment, molten metal parts, metal forming tools. Gas turbine engines, turbocharger rotors, high temperature propulsión components, foundary components. Automotive: bearings, tappet shims and buckets, cam rollers, high pressured pumps parts, turbocharge rotors, rocker arm tips, welding location pins, squeeze rollers for radiator tube manufacturing. Balls & bearings.Non-ferrous foundries: thermocouples sheaths, riser tubes, heater tubes, valve rods, valve seats, aluminium powder atomizer tubes, molten metal pumps parts, rotor for degassing shaft, launders due to its high temperature capacity, excellent thermal shock, non-wetting properties. Coordinate Measuring Machine Styluses CMM: various types of styluses, styluses rods, plain bearings, ceramic balls
|
Hydroxy apatite HA |
Chemically similar to the mineral component of bones and hard tissues in mammals, classed as bioactive, supports bone ingrowth and osseointegration |
Used in prosthetics, orthopaedic, dental and maxillofacial applications |
Typical Properties of highly pure Technical Ceramics |
Alumina |
Zirconia |
SiC/SiSiC |
Si3N4 |
Bulk Density g/cm3 |
3.8-3.9 |
5.8-6 |
3,1-3.2 |
3.1-3.3 |
Melting temperature ºC |
2000 |
2715 |
2730 decomposes |
1900 decomposes |
Maximum operating temperature ºC |
1500-1650 |
900-1000 |
1100-1500 |
1000-1150 |
Vickers Hardness HV (GPa) |
15-20 |
10-15 |
18-22 |
13-20 |
Flexural Strength MPa |
350-600 |
400-900 |
350-800 |
700-900 |
Compressive Strength MPa |
2000-2600 |
2000-2500 |
1700-2400 |
700-2700 |
Young's Modulus of Elasticity GPa |
360-380 |
200-220 |
430-440 |
270-300 |
Poisson's Ratio |
0.23 |
0.31 |
0.16 |
0.28 |
Fracture Toughness MPa√m |
4-6 |
6-7 |
4.5-5 |
6-7 |
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion 40~400℃ /40~800℃ (×10-6/℃) |
7.2/8 |
10/11 |
3.7/4.4 |
2.8/3.3 |
Thermal Conductivity 20℃ W/(m・K) |
30-34 |
2.9-3.1 |
60-200 |
23-54 |
Specific Heat J/(g・K) |
0.78-0.79 |
0.46-0.47 |
0.67 |
0.65-0.66 |
Heat Shock Resistance (in water) ℃ |
200-250 |
300-400 |
380-420 |
800-900 |
Dielectric Strength KV/mm |
12-15 |
11-13 |
- |
12-13 |
Volume Resistivity 20℃ Ω・cm |
>1014 |
>1014 |
105-108 |
>1014 |
Volume Resistivity 300℃ Ω・cm |
1013 |
108 |
104 |
1012 |
Volume Resistivity 500℃ Ω・cm |
1010 |
104 |
103 |
1010 |
Dielectric Constant 1MHz |
9.7-9.9 |
28-32 |
- |
8.3-9.6 |
Dielectric Loss Angle 1MH (×10-4) |
1-2 |
16-17 |
- |
5-19 |
Loss Factor ×10-4 |
10-20 |
470-520 |
- |
|
Nitric Acid(60%)90℃,24H |
10 |
0 |
<0.04 |
0.2-1.1 |
Sulphuric Acid(95%)95℃,24H |
<0.2 |
<0.05 |
0 |
0 |
Caustic Soda(30%)80℃,24H |
<0.05 |
<0.1 |
0 |
0.1-0.5 |

Please contact us to consult about our customised Ceramic slurries and your specific performance goals at: info@3Dresyns.com