3D printing of tantalum parts based on low molecular mass organic gel system

Abstract

In this study, 3D gel printing based on a low molecular mass organic gel system was employed to fabricate complex-shaped Ta parts. As opposed to a polymeric gel system, this system was initiated by heat transition. To obtain suitable printing slurry with 62 vol% solid content, 2.5 wt% resin was introduced to improve green body strength and 0.55 wt% oleic acid was added to modify the viscosity. As a result, the printed samples had relatively good surface quality without defects or pores observed on the surface. Ta particles were closely bound by dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS) gelators. After sintering, a uniform shrinkage was obtained with a shrinkage of 11%, but the surface quality of the as sintered samples was improved. Sintering decreased the surface roughness from 4.0 μm to 2.8 μm. Besides, the as-sintered Ta samples had a relatively dense and homogenous microstructure. The relative density of the as-sintered sample was about 98%. Therefore, 3D gel printing is a promising method to prepare complex-shaped Ta parts with minimal material waste.