Continuous fast 3D printing of SiOC ceramic components

Abstract Continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) strategy is a promising fast shaping additive manufacturing method due to its continuous UV-polymerization process. However, the large-scale extension of CLIP technology, especially for the printing of ceramics, is far from maturity. Herein, a highly cost-effective desktop top-down CLIP strategy was employed for the shaping of polymer-derived ceramics at a fast speed (100 mm/h in height). The deliberate shaping direction of the top-down CLIP strategy not only improved the printing speed, but also enabled full utilization of the natural oxygen in the air to generate the liquid interface on the top of the photocurable resin, ensuring that the printing process can be carried out continuously. These printed 3D-polysiloxane components can be further converted into dense and crack-free 3D-SiOC ceramics with a smooth surface upon a heat treatment. The strategy of top-down CLIP printing SiOC ceramics can be applied to the fast fabrications of other polymer-derived ceramics.