Effect of molecular weight and chemical structure of plasticizer on suspension property, binder removal, and sintered performance for zirconia toughened alumina ceramics fabricated by vat photopolymerization

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society 2024-12, Vol.44 (15), p.116730, Article 116730
• Main Authors: Zhou, Shixiang, Liu, Guizhou, Chen, Annan, Su, Jin, Zhang, Yue, Wang, Changshun, Yan, Chunze, Shi, Yunsong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical structure; Molecular weight; Plasticizer; Vat photopolymerization; Zirconia toughened alumina
• ISSN: 0955-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2024.116730

Adding plasticizer is an appealing strategy to optimize binder removal for ceramic components fabricated by vat photopolymerization (VPP). However, so far the studies for effect mechanism of plasticizer on whole technological process of VPP are comparatively very limited, especially through analysis of physical and chemical properties of plasticizers. Herein, the effect of molecular weight and chemical structure of plasticizer on suspension property, binder removal, and sintered performance of zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics was comprehensively investigated. Two types of plasticizers, namely, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG), with various molecular weights from 200 to 600 were used. Interestingly, only after adding PEG200 or PPG200, the suspensions still exhibited desired rheological and photocuring behavior, and the superior surface quality was still observed. More importantly, PPG200 proved to be the most effective plasticizer to achieve the most excellent and stable mechanical performances, as well as the highest debinding efficiency. [Display omitted] •Molecular weight and chemical structure of plasticizer had a notable influence on whole process of VPP-based ceramic AM.•Correlation of plasticizer with suspension property, binder removal, and sintered performance was identified.•Optimal plasticizer formulation of Al2O3/ZrO2 ceramic suspension via VPP-based 3D printing was investigated.•PPG200 noticeably enhanced both binder removal efficiency and mechanical performances of VPP 3D-printed ZTA ceramics.