Stereolithography additive manufacturing of multi-ceramic triangle structures with tunable thermal expansion

Ceramics and their structures with tunable thermal expansion are deemed necessary to develop. In this study, multi-ceramic structures with tunable thermal expansion, including negative thermal expansion (NTE), zero thermal expansion (ZTE), and positive thermal expansion (PTE), were developed for the first time. Firstly, multi-ceramic triangle structures with tunable thermal expansion were designed based on ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ ceramics. Then, multi-ceramic triangle structures were fabricated by using the stereolithography additive manufacturing technology. Functionally gradient ceramic (FGC) layers were applied for releasing the thermal mismatch stress among the structure. Finally, the thermal expansion behavior of the multi-ceramic triangle structures were characterized and analyzed by using a homemade thermal expansion testing system. The proposed design, fabrication and characterization methods of multi-ceramic structures with tunable thermal expansion are believed to promote the engineering application.