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Direct Ink Writing Glass: A Preliminary Step for Optical Application.
Bo Nan1,2, Przemysław Gołębiewski3,4, Ryszard Buczyński3,4
1Department of Materials and Ceramic Engineering, University of Aveiro, CICECO-Aveiro Materials Institute, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 5, 2020
Summary
This study explores 3D printing water-sensitive glass inks using borosilicate glass. The developed inks show stable rheology for direct ink writing, enabling the creation of porous glass structures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Additive Manufacturing
- Glass Science
Background:
- Water-sensitive glass presents unique properties but faces challenges in fabrication.
- 3D printing offers potential for intricate glass structures, yet requires specialized inks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of 3D printing water-sensitive borosilicate glass.
- To develop and characterize printable glass inks for direct ink writing.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of glass frit and fine powder.
- Formulation and rheological characterization of glass-based inks.
- Robocasting 3D printing and subsequent sintering.
- Analysis using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
Main Results:
- Stable rheological properties of glass inks were achieved, suitable for 3D printing.
- Successful fabrication of sintered glass bodies without crystalline phase formation.
- SEM analysis indicated closed porosity in sintered samples, potentially causing light scattering.
Conclusions:
- The developed technology is suitable for producing water-sensitive glass inks.
- The 3D printing approach allows for controlled fabrication of glass with specific microstructures.
- Further research can explore the optical properties influenced by the observed porosity.
