Fabrication of MAX-phase-based ceramics by three-dimensional printing

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is a flexible and cost-effective method for direct digital manufacturing that provides capabilities for creating a wide range of part geometries in a broad variety of materials. Recently, a combined process of 3DP and reactive melt infiltration (RMI) has been applied to fabricate MAX-phase-based ceramics, exhibiting great potential in the fabrication of bulk compounds with complicated shape. This paper briefly summarizes the fabrication of Ti₃AlC₂- and Ti₃SiC₂-based ceramics with the combined process. 3DP facilitates the prior design of a porous preform with specific pore distribution and microstructure, which is beneficial to the control of the volume change of the following reaction in the RMI process, promoting the near-net-shape fabrication of MAX-phase-based ceramics with high flexibility in component geometry.