Rapid three-dimensional structuring of transparent SiO2 glass using interparticle photo-cross-linkable suspensions

Ryoya Arita,Taichi Furukawa,Seitaro Morita,Junichi Tatami,Yoko Fujishiro,Motoyuki Iijima,Shoji Maruo

doi:10.1038/s43246-020-0029-y

Ryoya Arita, Taichi Furukawa + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-020-0029-y

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Journal: Communications Materials	Publication Date: May 20, 2020
Citations: 33	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Yokohama National University

Abstract

Photo-curable suspensions are important materials for shaping complex-structured ceramic and glass components. However, most systems undergo slow debinding and sintering so to avoid structural collapse by rapid gas generation from polymers. Here, we propose a new strategy to fabricate interparticle photo-cross-linkable suspensions for rapid three-dimensional structuring with short debinding and sintering times. SiO2 particles modified with polyethyleneimine complexed with oleic acid (PEI-OA) are dispersed into a refractive-index-tuned solvent, where a photo-radical initiator and a lower-than-typical amount of multifunctional acrylates (MAs) were dissolved. The SiO2 suspension is cured by the photo-radical polymerization of MA and the Michael additive reaction between polymerized MA and amino groups of PEI-OA on SiO2 particles. These photo-curable suspensions can be employed in various shaping processes, from micro-scale stereolithography to centimeter-scale silicone molding. The SiO2 green compacts with complex structures are also debinded and sintered into transparent glass components by rapid heating.

Highlights

We will demonstrate that the proposed photo-curable suspension can be applied to various shaping processes, including micro-scale stereolithography and centimeter-scale in-situ solidification, and can be further processed into transparent SiO2 glass materials through rapid debinding/sintering even under non-vacuumed atmospheric conditions
Many further attempts have made, such as by designing monomer mixtures to tune the number of reactive functional groups for controlling the photocuring rates[23]; selecting monomers/solvents to achieve a transparent suspension and avoid light scattering[1,17,18,19,26], which realizes high-resolution three-dimensional printing by microstereolithography[1]; and adding light absorbers and/or radical inhibitors to optimize the printing resolution[2,3,9,17,24]
In addition to reducing the organic content in the photocurable suspension, the proposed suspension system is designed to simultaneously achieve improved suspension transparency and a highly dispersed state of particles under concentrated conditions to realize the applicability of the suspension to shaping processes in a wide range of scales and to achieve densified transparent SiO2 glass after atmospheric pressure sintering of the green compacts

Summary

Introduction

We will demonstrate that the proposed photo-curable suspension can be applied to various shaping processes, including micro-scale stereolithography and centimeter-scale in-situ solidification, and can be further processed into transparent SiO2 glass materials through rapid debinding/sintering even under non-vacuumed atmospheric conditions.

Results

Conclusion