Research progress of ceramic matrix composite parts based on additive manufacturing technology

ABSTRACT

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are materials that can be engineered for high-temperature applications in various fields including aerospace, marine, etc. It is very difficult to fabricate CMCs using traditional moulding methods due to their brittleness and high hardness. Additive manufacture (AM) technology, a digital manufacturing technology, provides multiple advantages over traditional manufacturing technologies, such as fabricating geometrically complex parts, mould-free fabrication, short development cycle, etc. In this paper, various AM technologies developed for CMCs are reviewed with emphasis on mechanisms of manufacturing, characteristics of production, and recent research progresses. With the springing up of innovative ideas and pioneering work, AM technology possesses unique forming capabilities in fabricating CMCs, demonstrating strong potentials in the application of CMCs in aerospace and other fields. However, there are still many challenges of CMCs fabricated by AM technologies, i.e. poor mechanical properties and geometric accuracies; lower reinforcement volume fraction than that of traditional manufacturing processes.

KEYWORDS:

• Additive manufacturing
• ceramic matrix composites
• fibre reinforced composites

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Zhongliang Lu is Ph.D. supervisor of Xi’an Jiaotong University, studies on the 3D printing of ceramic and ceramic matrix composites, and has published nearly 30 research papers included in SCI. Among his recent research papers are Microstructure and mechanical property of C_f/SiC core/shell composite fabricated by direct ink writing (Scripta Materialia, 2019) and Microstructure control of highly oriented short carbon fibers in SiC matrix composites fabricated by direct ink writing (Ceramic International, 2019).

Jiwei Cao is a Ph.D. candidate of Xi’an Jiaotong University and studies on the 3D printing of ceramic matrix composites. Among his recent research papers is Fabrication of high-strength porous SiC-based composites with unidirectional channels (Journal of American Ceramic Society, 2019).

Zhaoqiang Song is a Ph.D. candidate of the University of California San Diego, studies on the Solid mechanics of composites and Intelligent manufacturing, and has published several high-level papers included in SCI.

Dichen Li is a Ph.D. supervisor and Changjiang professor of Xi’an Jiaotong University, leader of state key lab for manufacturing systems engineering, and studies on the 3D printing of biological, ceramic, polymer and metal and their composite materials. He has obtained one second prize of National Award for Technological Invention (2014) and one second prize of National Award for Science and Technology Progress (2000).

Bingheng Lu is a Ph.D. supervisor and professor of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and studies on the 3D printing, mechanical manufacturing engineering, intelligent manufacturing, and micro-nano manufacturing. He has obtained two second prize of National Award for Technological Invention (2005, 2014).

ORCID

Jiwei Cao http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7414-6895

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under grant numbers 51775418 and 51375372.