Effect of adding different levels of MoO3 on the microstructure, physical properties and mechanical properties of alumina ceramics prepared by vat photopolymerization

Vat photopolymerization (VPP) technology is widely employed in 3D printing owing to its high precision and stability. However, alumina ceramic components fabricated via VPP exhibit inherent brittleness and low toughness, thereby limiting their broader applications. To address these limitations, molybdenum oxide was introduced as an additive to enhance the performance of VPP-processed alumina ceramics. This study systematically investigated the effects of molybdenum oxide content (0-15 wt% in 2.5 % increments) on key characteristics of VPP-printed alumina ceramics, encompassing rheological behavior, microstructure, phase composition, and mechanical performance. Experimental results demonstrated that optimal molybdenum oxide addition (10 wt%) significantly reduced specimen porosity by 58.33 % and water absorption by 32.76 %, while concurrently improving particle crystallization quality. Notably, This addition enhanced mechanical properties: flexural strength increased by 58.33 %, compressive strength by 32.76 %, and fracture toughness by 130.16 % compared to baseline. The findings confirm that optimal molybdenum oxide addition substantially improves mechanical performance of VPP-printed alumina ceramics.