The effect of light scattering in stereolithography ceramic manufacturing

This research simulated the light scattering caused by ceramic particles' presence during stereolithography ceramic manufacturing and revealed the phenomena in the process. The theoretical derivation and calculation of a classic single-particle scattering model were used to verify the reliability of the simulation model. The light scattering simulation confirmed the effects of particle distribution, input energy, and relative refractive index, which were all supported by experiments. The simulation also showed the different scattering edge and the surface roughness at the micron level with verified experiment. Besides, as the particle size of Al2O3 particles increased, the curing thickness increased, the degree of side scattering increased slightly, and the regularity of the curing edge decreased. It was found through simulation that adding an appropriate amount of carbon powder can solve SiO2 inability to print. This study provides valuable guidance to the control of the light-cured 3D printing process for ceramics.

Automated summary

This study simulated light scattering caused by ceramic particles during stereolithography ceramic manufacturing, confirming the effects of particle distribution, input energy, and relative refractive index. The simulation also revealed differences in scattering edge and surface roughness, providing valuable insights for controlling the light-cured 3D printing process for ceramics.