© сайт Томского государственного университета
TOMSK, Feb 2 – RIA Tomsk. Scientists
of the Tomsk State University (TSU) have developed the 3D-printer for getting
parts of engines, microcircuitries and space devices from high-strength ceramics which can
replace some metal elements, press service of the university informed on
Tuesday.
It is specified that advantage of
ceramic materials is in features of their hermal conduction, high durability
and hardness. But the technologies, allowing to do elements with necessary
characteristics, did not exist earlier. Traditionally they were made by
pressure die casting method which did not allow to make parts of complex shape.
And the three-dimensional printing did not allow to obtain sufficiently high
quality and durable products.
"TSU scientists have developed
unparalleled 3D-printer which allows printing from ceramics, competing by its
properties with high-alloy steels, non-ferrous metals and hard alloys.
<…> Our 3D-printer is first-ever in the world which can print ceramics of
such class: monolithic in its structure, complex configuration, with accuracy
of printing up to tens micron", – said in a statement.
© Алена Кардаш
The press-service added that the TSU
develop not only printing technology, but also synthesize material for it –
ceramic powders (carbides, nitrides and borides of metals). In particular
temperature powders are brought to a sour cream consistence to make them
suitable as "ink". After that the product is printed and sintered on
a special technology which allows to obtain the required material parameters.
It is noted that now scientists are
completing the development of technology and have already patented a method of
products' obtaining.
According to the university, the
technology will be adapted for different types of ceramics to obtain products
for energetics, radio electronics, mechanical engineering, defense industries,
chemical and gas-and-oil producing industry. For example, it can be protective
panels of space devices, components of propulsion system or a substrate of
microcircuits.