Direct Laser Sintering of Al2O3ÒSiO2 Dental Ceramic Components by Layer-Wise Slurry Deposition

Direct Laser Sintering of Al2O3ÒSiO2 Dental Ceramic Components by Layer-Wise Slurry Deposition
2006
To cite this article: Andr» Gahler, J?rgen G. Heinrich, Jens G?nster (2006)
Direct Laser Sintering of Al2O3-SiO2 Dental Ceramic Components by Layer-Wise Slurry Deposition
Journal of the American Ceramic Society 89 (10), 3076Ò3080.
doi:10.1111/j.1551-2916.2006.01217.x
Blackwell Synergy

Andr» Gahler11Department for Engineering Ceramics, Institute of Nonmetallic Materials, Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, GermanyAuthor to whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: Andre.Gahler@TU-Clausthal.de, J?rgen G. Heinrich11Department for Engineering Ceramics, Institute of Nonmetallic Materials, Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany and Jens G?nster22Clausthal University of Technology, Laser Application Center (LAC), Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany1Department for Engineering Ceramics, Institute of Nonmetallic Materials, Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
2Clausthal University of Technology, Laser Application Center (LAC), Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
R. KeransÛcontributing editor

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: Andre.Gahler@TU-Clausthal.de

Abstract
This publication presents a solid freeform fabrication technique for ceramics in the aluminaÒsilica system by layering binder-free, high-loaded ceramic slurries, followed by selective laser sintering. The low melting silica phase and the reaction sintering between silica and alumina favor the rapid prototyping of pure ceramic parts. On the basis of electroacoustic and viscosity measurements, stable slurries from Al2O3/SiO2 powder mixtures and water with a high fluidity have been prepared for the layer deposition with a doctor blade like in tape casting. Layers with a thickness of about 100 μm were processed. It was found in laser parameter studies that ceramic parts can only be obtained using special alumina contents and laser parameters. But the biphasic approach may allow greater flexibility in the processing regime than is afforded by the use of just one material. The microstructure of these parts depends mainly on the temperature gradient induced by the laser absorption and thermal conduction. The wet shaping facilitates laser-sintered parts with a relatively high density, which could be increased by a thermal post-treatment.

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