Digital inkjet printing in three dimensions with multiple ceramic compositions

Abstract Compared to metals and polymers, the poor processability of ceramic materials limits their use in industrial applications, despite their excellent properties. Three-dimensional (3D) printing methods can increase the processing flexibility of ceramic materials. Here, we report inkjet-based 3D printing process with different ceramic compositions. Ultraviolet (UV) curable ceramic ink was synthesized from a mixture of ceramic pigments, UV curable monomer, dispersant, and photoinitiator. The rheological properties and jetting behavior of ceramic ink were optimized. The influences of the photoinitiator and contact angle on the additive printing behavior were also investigated in detail. Finally, the 3D objects which consist of multiple ceramic materials and compositional gradients were successfully formed using inkjet printing.