3D Printing
Contact us
Home / News / Johns Hopkins Team Prints Ultra-high Temperature Carbide Ceramics
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Johns Hopkins Team Prints Ultra-high Temperature Carbide Ceramics

November 30, 2022

Using commercially available systems, a group of researchers from The Johns Hopkins University have managed to fabricate Ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs). The materials have been traditionally difficult to print, but thanks to the new research, that may be about to change.

Read on to learn more about it.

UHCTs

UHCTs are refractory ceramics that are notable for their high stability in ultra high temperatures (hence the name). They are ideal candidate structural materials for applications that require resilience to extreme temperatures (>2000°C), such as thermal protection products or bulk materials for the fabrication of heating elements.

In addition to being great at resisting high temperatures, they are well suited for situations where the components may be subjective to high mechanical loads, or aggressive oxidizing environments.

Thermal shock testing
Thermal shock testing of the printed specimen. (Image credit: The Johns Hopkins University)

The researchers have been developing a method to 3D print one type of UHTC in particular, namely those using titanium carbide (TiC), which is an extremely hard refractory ceramic material, similar to tungsten carbide.

It has been difficult to fabricate TiC structures with AM in the past, largely because the strong covalent-ionic and metallic bonds in the materials slow atomic diffusion that prevents sintering.

Dry powder and colloidal shaping manufacturing processes have proven complex to get right, and as a result, high post-processing temperatures and pressure-assisted techniques are needed to produce dense components with these materials. And as these processes are non-additive, they lack the benefits of AM, such as the ability to produce complex geometries.

Using commercially available systems such as a plastic LPBF system and a tube furnace, the research team was able to produce UHTC cubes and lattices with sub-millimeter resolution, thus proving that it can indeed be done with AM.

The Process

The first stage was to use an SLS system (a Sinterit Lisa Pro) to sinter a titanium precursor mixed with a polymer binder, to produce the green part. The sealed build chamber was modified for compatibility with Argon gas and fitted with a dynamic O2 monitoring device to prevent Ti oxidation.

Next, the green parts were subjected to isothermal gas-solid conversion in the tube furnace in CH4 (methane) to form TiCx structures. In other words, pyrolysis of the polymer binder resulted in the generation of enough carbon to facilitate the transformation of Ti into TiCx.

To complete the reaction into TiC, further processing was needed.

For this, reactive post-processing in CH4 resulted in up to 98.2 wt% TiC0.90 product yield and a reduction in net-shrinkage during consolidation. This reduction was due to the volume expansion associated with the conversion of Ti to TiC.

De-powdering
De-powdering the green lattice. (Image credit: The Johns Hopkins University)

The researchers opted for two different print geometries to assess different qualities of the finished parts. They printed a 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm cube (to assess the influence of anisotropic volume changes, part density, and CH4 penetration) and a lattice structure (to assess resolution and precision).

Here are some fun facts about TiC-based UHCTs.

TiC has an extremely high melting point (3067 °C), and the highest hardness of any carbide. It also has the highest compressive strength of any known material, as the image of the printed lattice below demonstrates quite nicely.

The final lattice
The final lattice, surviving compression under a big chunk of concrete. (Image credit: The Johns Hopkins University)

Ostensibly, the research was a success, and the team says that with additional
development and investigation, this two-step approach to 3D printing UHTCs
Could be applied to other carbides such as ZrC, HfC, or TaC that have been difficult, if not impossible, to fabricate with AM.

You can read the paper, titled “Reactive Two-Step Additive Manufacturing of Ultra-high Temperature Carbide Ceramics” in the Additive Manufacturing journal, at this link right here.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Phillip Keane
Phillip is an aerospace engineer from UK. He is a graduate of Coventry University (UK), International Space University (France) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where he studied Advanced Manufacturing at the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.
Latest posts

Report Shows Construction 3D Printing Can Mitigate Effects of Climate Change

Cement and concrete are two of the most widely used resources in the world, second only to water, and their demand is expected... read more »

1 day ago Construction
wasp 3mt concrete

International Consortium to Promote Use of 3D Printed Metals in Construction

The Politecnico di Milano is leading a "ConstructAdd", an international consortium of partners in developing metal 3D printing techniques to improve energy efficiency... read more »

2 days ago 3D Printing Metal
Tensile test specimen

3D Printed Superyacht Concept Unveiled

Designer Jozeph Forakis has recently unveiled the world's first 3D printed superyacht, the 88-metre Pegasus concept. The yacht is designed to be sustainable... read more »

2 days ago News
superyacht

Creality Launches Huge CR-M4 – The Next Big Thing in Quality Printing

Creality has just released its new FDM 3D printer, the CR-M4, with rigid stability and a HUGE build volume. The CR-M4 is being... read more »

2 days ago 3D Printers
cr-m4

3D Printed Geodesic Labyrinth Arises in France

A 3D printed labyrinth has been erected in the medieval town of Chateaugiron, in the north-west of France, marking the first time that... read more »

4 days ago Art
Labyrinth by night.

Researchers Use Digital Twin for DED Optimization

A group of researchers from Tokyo University of Science and Suwa University of Science, in Japan, have collaborated with TOCALO Co. Ltd. to... read more »

6 days ago 3D Printing Metal
digital twin

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
  • Twitter Twitter 3D Printing

3D Printer Categories

  • Desktop 3D Printers
  • Industrial 3D Printers
  • Geeetech Mizar Pro Geeetech Mizar Pro
    220 x 220 x 260 mm
    $219
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech THUNDER Geeetech THUNDER
    250 x 250 x 260 mm
    $489
    Buy Now
  • Fusion3 F410 Fusion3 F410
    355 x 355 x 315 mm
    $4,599
    Buy Now
  • Modix BIG-60 Modix BIG-60
    600 x 600 x 660 mm
    $4,900
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar M Geeetech Mizar M
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $399
    Buy Now
  • gCreate gMax 2 PRO (with enclosure) gCreate gMax 2 PRO (with enclosure)
    457 x 457 x 609 mm
    $5,295
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar S Geeetech Mizar S
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $279
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech A30T Geeetech A30T
    320 x 320 x 420 mm
    $449
    Buy Now
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

  • LaserForm Maraging Steel (A) LaserForm Maraging Steel (A)
    Aerospace parts, Automotive high-wear parts, Cooling channels, Furnace parts, Tooling
    Heat resistant
    View Details
  • Certified CuNi30 (A) Certified CuNi30 (A)
    Cryogenic suspension and support systems, Pipe fittings, Valves
    Corrosion resistant, Low temperature resistance
    View Details
  • Tungsten (A) Tungsten (A)
    Components for imaging equipment, Ion generation equipment, Static weight distribution components
    Corrosion resistant, Heat resistant, Ionizing radiation absorption
    View Details
  • A6061-RAM2 (A) A6061-RAM2 (A)
    Light weight structural parts, RF parts for satellites
    High strength, Lightweight, Ductile
    View Details
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    1010 x 1010 x 1010 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
  • Industry MAGNUM Industry MAGNUM
    1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm
    €159.000
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-120Z Modix BIG-120Z
    600 x 600 x 1200 mm
    from $7,500
    Request a Quote
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • 3D Printing Service
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers

Featured Companies

  • Modix
  • 3D Systems
  • Industry
  • Geeetech

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon M3
  • Flashforge Creator 3
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro
  • Craftbot FLOW IDEX XL
  • BIQU B1
2023 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Service
  • Materials
  • Contact us
Featured Companies
  • Modix
  • 3D Systems
  • Industry
  • Geeetech
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • 3D Printing Service
  • Newsletter
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing
We serve cookies on this site to analyze traffic, remember your preferences, and optimize your experience.
Details
Close