Fused filament fabrication of partially stabilized zirconia (3Y-TZP) parts

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is a widely adopted additive manufacturing (AM) technology primarily utilized for producing polymeric components. However, in recent years, there has been an emergence of commercial solutions for manufacturing ceramic materials using FFF. Although ceramic FFF holds significant potential across various industries, it remains relatively unexplored, with only a limited number of related studies published. In this study, FFF was utilized to fabricate 3Y-TZP parts. Specimens printed with the building direction parallel (0 degrees) to the applied load exhibited a remarkable flexural strength of 1043 +/- 57 MPa, whereas samples manufactured with a perpendicular direction (90 degrees) displayed a modulus of rupture of 289 MPa, emphasizing their anisotropic behavior. Additionally, FFF demonstrated its capability to produce ceramic parts with complex geometries, including those with large cross-sections (>1000 mm(2)).