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The challenge of long processing time has been studied by i.e., microwave-assisted debinding, solvent extraction and optimizing the debinding program, but ways to shorten the debinding time are limited due to large binder content in slurry recipes.

A way to enable faster thermal debinding of stereolithography (SLA) printed parts is to create gas flow channels within the ceramic part structure, so that polymerized binders can exit through them in gaseous form without causing flaws. These channels can be created by extraction of certain substances prior to thermal debinding. I am currently working on development of ceramic slurries suitable for both SLA printing and pre-debinding with supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The aim is to be able to extract enough chemicals to create interconnected porosity and thus enable faster heating rates and shorter dwell times in thermal debinding programs.

This might lead us to significantly shorter processing times of i.e., SLA printed dental prostheses. This research topic got positive feedback at the ECerS 2023 conference, where I was granted the 1st prize at the Shen-Kosmač speech contest in ‘Clinical Applications of Ceramics and Technologies in Dentistry’ Satellite Symposium.

Portrait image by Nea Alanen

SEM image by Milla Rinne

SEM image caption: Secondary electron images of alumina SLA print fracture surfaces with recipes a) unsuitable and b) suitable for supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.

Nonna Nurmi

Doctoral Researcher

Department of Materials Science and Environmental Engineering

Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

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