Aqueous Biopolymers for Ceramic Solid Freeform Fabrication

The proposed program is to develop the use of aqueous biopolymers for the solid freeform fabrication of ceramic components. It will be a collaborative effort between ACR and Battelle PNL. PNL has expertise in colloidal ceramic processing and experience on utilizing biopolymers in ceramic slurries. ACR has already developed extensive software and hardware capability for solid freeform fabrication. Biopolymers that are capable of thermal gelation have tremendous potential in freeforming ceramics. They solidify upon cooling without the use of chemical additives and at lower concentrations than any other synthetic gelling agents. The use of very low concentrations of gelling agents will enable slurries to be prepared with very high ceramic solids loadings, ensuring ready densification and low shrinkage in the final fired part. In the Phase I program slurry optimization and the development of a freeforming methodology will be carried out. Experimental A1203 parts will be freeformed and mechanically tested.