Microengineering of ceramics by direct ink-Jet printing

A modified piezoelectric drop-on-demand ink-jet printer was used to build 3-D ceramic structures with cavities and overhangs by direct ceramic deposition. Inks in the form of zirconia and carbon suspensions were prepared with suitable viscosities and surface tensions. The multinozzle printer was used to microengineer small components in which support structures were created from the carbon ink and the carbon was removed after pyrolysis of the organic vehicle but before sintering the zirconia. The viability of this process is discussed in terms of machine limitations and ink drying problems.