Micro- and macroscopic design of alumina ceramics by robocasting

The manufacturing of alumina ceramics with auxetic and macro-cellular lattice structure and with textured microstructure was achieved by using robocasting and TGG-technique (Templated Grain Growth). After sintering at different temperatures a grain growth effect was observed in robocast ceramic filaments, which showed a microstructural gradient in particle orientation and porosity from the edge to the middle. The particle orientation during robocasting was analytically and numerically investigated by calculating the inhomogeneous shear rate distribution in the extrusion nozzle.