Vat photopolymerization of sepiolite fiber-toughened alumina: Effects of sepiolite fiber content on microstructures and physical, rheological, and mechanical properties

Abstract

Vat photopolymerization (VPP)-fabricated ceramic parts are often plagued by brittleness and low toughness, restricting their practical utility. In response, this study undertakes a pioneering exploration into the incorporation of sepiolite fiber (SF) as an additive to bolster the toughness of VPP-fabricated Al2O3 ceramic parts. An extensive investigation explored the impact of varying SF contents (0 wt%, 3 wt%, 6 wt%, and 9 wt%) on different aspects of VPP-printed Al2O3 parts, encompassing rheological properties, microstructures, phase compositions, physical attributes, and mechanical performance. The experimental findings demonstrate that the inclusion of SF is conducive to a reduction in porosity, an enhancement in crystalline quality, and an improvement in the mechanical properties of the parts. Particularly noteworthy is the remarkable increase in flexural strength and toughness of Al2O3 parts, which surged by 418.32% and 630.05%, respectively, with the incorporation of SF. These results underscore SF's substantial positive influence on augmenting the mechanical characteristics of VPP-printed Al2O3 parts.