Digital light processing 3D printing of ceramic shell for precision casting

摘要

Ceramic shell with complex structure for precision casting was successfully fabricated by the digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing method. A calcined kaolin (Al(2)O(3 center dot)2SiO(2)) suspension with a solid loading of 45 vol% for 3D printing was prepared by using UV-curable resin as a binder. The experimental results show that the suspension displayed a shear-thinning fluid characteristic, which was suitable for 3D printing. After being printed and subsequently sintered at 1200 degrees C, the porosity, relative density and transverse rupture strength of the shell were 24.5%, 2.08 g cm(3) and 9.98 MPa, respectively. A stainless steel impeller with four curved blades was successfully casted by using the 3D printed ceramic shell. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.