Innovative in situ photocuring-assisted 3D plotting technique for complex-shaped ceramic architectures with high shape retention

We herein propose a novel type of additive manufacturing (AM) technique, denoted as “in situ photocuring-assisted 3D plotting”, which can rapidly solidify extruded green filaments comprised of ceramic powders and photocurable monomers using UV light during 3D plotting. To accomplish this, the rheological properties and photocuring behavior of the ceramic slurry were carefully tailored, particularly by using a mixture of diruethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) monomers as the photocurable vehicle. This innovative approach enabled the favorable extrusion of the ceramic slurry through a fine nozzle with high green strength after photocuring, and thus complex-shaped ceramic architectures with high shape retention could be constructed. As an example, a free-standing helical structure with a circular cross-section was successfully produced even without the use of any supporting materials. In addition, a porous ceramic scaffold with a tightly controlled porous structure could be produced.