Introduction To CerAMfacturing At Fraunhofer IKTS

Advanced ceramics have combinations of properties that other classes of materials cannot achieve. They are characterized by very high thermal, chemical and mechanical resistance. By adapting additive manufacturing processes for ceramic materials (CerAM), ceramic components can be complexly shaped, further functionalized and miniaturized – as is common for other classes of materials.

Functionalized components can be realized by combining ceramic additvie manufactuirng and thick-film technologies. In a first step, the ceramic basic component is manufactured, including sintering. In a second technological step, this ceramic component is functionalized. For Al2O3 as well as other ceramics, the thick-film technology established in electronics and microsystem technology is a good solution. This technology can be used to print and fuse electrical conductors, resistors, heating elements or sensors onto the ceramic substrates. The electrical connection contact is realized by proven methods of the packaging technology of electronics. The advantage of this approach is that the materials required for functionalization are available on an industrial scale.

Fraunhofer IKTS offers complete AM solutions ranging from powder and suspension/feedstock development and production method selection to functionalization and quality control of novel parts and systems. The following methods are availabe:

Highly integrated functional components for electronics,  analytics, sensors and process technology