Contributed by: ZHANG Jiahao, Lian Qin
Contributed by: State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi 'an Jiaotong University
Source: Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineering Additive Manufacturing Technology (3D printing) Branch
Piezoelectric ceramic components are widely used today because of their ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Traditional piezoelectric ceramic components are manufactured by mechanical cutting technology. However, due to the high hardness, high strength and brittleness of ceramics, it is difficult to manufacture piezoelectric ceramic parts with complex structures, which will also reduce their piezoelectric properties. The additive manufacturing technology can realize the integration of forming and machining of piezoelectric ceramic parts with complex design, and the digital light processing technology (DLP) has the advantages of high production precision, fast forming speed and good surface quality. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics are the most widely used piezoelectric materials. However, at present, the preparation of PZT piezoelectric ceramics by digital optical processing technology faces two technical problems :(1) ultra-low curing depth; (2) The scattering effect is serious. The poor curing properties limit the application of DLP technology in the manufacture of piezoelectric ceramics.
Liu Chunlei and Wu Jiamin from Huazhong University of Science and Technology improved the refractive index and UV absorptivity of PZT ceramic paste by adding soluble starch. 3D printed PZT piezoelectric ceramics with high performance and complex structure were prepared by using DLP technology. After post-treatment, the relative density of PZT ceramics containing 20 vol% soluble starch can reach 89.51% of the theoretical density.
FIG. 1 PZT paste curing depth and precision testing device with different soluble starch content
Soluble starch has obvious advantages in improving the printing performance of PZT ceramic paste. Figure 1 shows the curing depth of PZT slurry with different soluble starch content. The curing depth of ceramic paste without adding soluble starch cannot meet the requirements of 3D printing. Increasing the content of soluble starch from 20 vol% to 50 vol% can improve the printing accuracy. The results show that the introduction of ultra-low refractive index and UV absorptivity of soluble starch is an effective method to improve the curing performance of PZT slurry.
The team systematically investigated the electrical properties of PZT ceramics in order to quantify and provide valuable insights into the influence of soluble starch content. As shown in Figure 2, piezoelectric ceramics printed with soluble starch have good dielectric and piezoelectric properties, proving that DLP technology has great potential in manufacturing piezoelectric components.
FIG. 2 Electrical properties of PZT ceramics containing 20 vol% soluble starch
The research of the team provides a good way to manufacture piezoelectric ceramics with high performance and complex structure by using digital light processing technology, and expands the application of DLP technology in piezoelectric ceramics manufacturing and the range of materials formed by DLP technology.
References:
Chun-Lei L ,Quanpei D ,Han Z , et al. 3D printing of lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics via digital light processing (DLP)[J]. Ceramics International, 2023,49 17 (pa). Contributed by: ZHANG Jiahao, Lian Qin
Contributed by: State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi 'an Jiaotong University
Source: Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineering Additive Manufacturing Technology (3D printing) Branch
Piezoelectric ceramic components are widely used today because of their ability to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Traditional piezoelectric ceramic components are manufactured by mechanical cutting technology. However, due to the high hardness, high strength and brittleness of ceramics, it is difficult to manufacture piezoelectric ceramic parts with complex structures, which will also reduce their piezoelectric properties. The additive manufacturing technology can realize the integration of forming and machining of piezoelectric ceramic parts with complex design, and the digital light processing technology (DLP) has the advantages of high production precision, fast forming speed and good surface quality. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics are the most widely used piezoelectric materials. However, at present, the preparation of PZT piezoelectric ceramics by digital optical processing technology faces two technical problems :(1) ultra-low curing depth; (2) The scattering effect is serious. The poor curing properties limit the application of DLP technology in the manufacture of piezoelectric ceramics.
Liu Chunlei and Wu Jiamin from Huazhong University of Science and Technology improved the refractive index and UV absorptivity of PZT ceramic paste by adding soluble starch. 3D printed PZT piezoelectric ceramics with high performance and complex structure were prepared by using DLP technology. After post-treatment, the relative density of PZT ceramics containing 20 vol% soluble starch can reach 89.51% of the theoretical density.
FIG. 1 PZT paste curing depth and precision testing device with different soluble starch content
Soluble starch has obvious advantages in improving the printing performance of PZT ceramic paste. Figure 1 shows the curing depth of PZT slurry with different soluble starch content. The curing depth of ceramic paste without adding soluble starch cannot meet the requirements of 3D printing. Increasing the content of soluble starch from 20 vol% to 50 vol% can improve the printing accuracy. The results show that the introduction of ultra-low refractive index and UV absorptivity of soluble starch is an effective method to improve the curing performance of PZT slurry.
The team systematically investigated the electrical properties of PZT ceramics in order to quantify and provide valuable insights into the influence of soluble starch content. As shown in Figure 2, piezoelectric ceramics printed with soluble starch have good dielectric and piezoelectric properties, proving that DLP technology has great potential in manufacturing piezoelectric components.
FIG. 2 Electrical properties of PZT ceramics containing 20 vol% soluble starch
The research of the team provides a good way to manufacture piezoelectric ceramics with high performance and complex structure by using digital light processing technology, and expands the application of DLP technology in piezoelectric ceramics manufacturing and the range of materials formed by DLP technology.
References:
Chun-Lei L ,Quanpei D ,Han Z , et al. 3D printing of lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics via digital light processing (DLP)[J]. Ceramics International, 2023,49 17 (pa).