Low-cost and low-temperature 3D printing for refractory composite inspired by fused deposition modeling and binder jetting

Inspired by two subsets of additive manufacturing, a novel method of low-cost and low-temperature 3D printing for net shape refractory products has been proposed and validated in the present work. Taking the typical re-fractory composite of tungsten-copper as an instance, the feedstock for printing was made of 97 wt% W-Cu composite powders and 3 wt% binder. The resulted W-Cu composite was printed on a desktop 3D printer at room temperature, followed by designated degreasing and hydrogen-reduction sintering. Characteristics including phase constituents, microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of the resulted composite have been identified. The revealed neat and intact interfaces between the constituent Cu and W after fully degreasing ensured sufficient loading transfer and deformation coordination, contributing to excellent mechanical proper-ties with high electrical conductivity. This work extended the feasibility of fabricating refractory alloys without molds and expensive equipment, providing a new solution and scheme for refractory materials with intricate structures.

Automated summary

A novel method of low-cost and low-temperature 3D printing for net shape refractory products has been proposed and validated in this study. The fabricated tungsten-copper composite exhibited excellent mechanical and electrical properties, making it suitable for refractory materials with intricate structures.