Binder jet printing lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with sintering aids

In this study, we explore binder jet printing and sintering piezoelectric ceramic samples consisting of barium titanate (BaTiO3) and small amounts of sintering aids. Binder jet printing of piezoelectric ceramics shows promise for being a preferred additive manufacturing method for piezoelectric ceramics. Thus far binder jet printed piezoelectric ceramics have suffered from lower piezoelectric and dielectric properties than conventionally manufactured piezoelectric ceramics. This is mainly due to the high porosity of sintered binder jet printed samples. This investigation uses sintering aids that enable printed samples to sinter at lower temperatures and compact into higher densities than printed samples consisting of pure BaTiO3. In this presentation, we will discuss our selection of sintering aids, our investigation of sintering temperature profiles, and the properties of sintered samples. We will show a comparison of properties between our printed and sintered samples with BaTiO3 samples manufactured using uniaxial pressing. We will finish by discussing future steps in printing and sintering fully dense piezoelectric ceramics given the current state of this technology. [Work funded by the Office of Naval Research.]