CERAMIC FORMING BY ELECTROSTATIC ATOMIZATION

A concentrated alumina suspension was subjected to electrostatic atomization in the cone-jet mode. A point-like ground electrode was used to focus and p rint the spray on a substrate which was moved using a c omputercontrolled printing device. Several patterns were printed and alumina relic sizes were dramatically reduced with the increase in applied voltage. This work points to the development of a novel ceramic solid freeforming fabrication process.