STTR Phase I: Novel Nanoparticle Composite Systems for Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) Dental Ceramic Applications

这个小型企业技术转移(STTR)第一阶段项目将开发一种新型的多功能、高产量、纳米颗粒陶瓷系统，用于牙科修复应用的生物兼容复合材料的三维打印(3DP)。该项目将专注于用于3DP的纳米颗粒陶瓷材料系统的创新，该系统提供灵活的组成、可定制的前体粘度，并产生50-70wt.百分比的陶瓷产率。通过在粘结剂油墨中引入纳米颗粒填料，可以进一步提高产率。这项工作的一个关键组成部分是研究纳米粉末与输送液体之间的相互作用，以及整个系统的组成对印刷部件的烧结和致密化行为的影响。这些问题对于喷墨打印陶瓷对象的稳健和可靠处理具有巨大的技术重要性，特别是在持续关注提高打印分辨率的情况下。了解成分加工、加工转化和转化微观结构之间的复杂相互作用将提供基本的陶瓷加工知识，并为使用新型纳米墨水通过3DP快速制造生产具有竞争力、商业可行性的牙科材料确立技术和商业可行性。更广泛的(商业)影响将是除了从成功的努力中预期的商业利益和高潜在的经济回报之外，拟议的项目将对更广泛的喷墨和3D打印研究以及各级学生的学术和职业准备产生重大影响。对多用途、商业可行的喷墨和3D打印的影响源于对喷墨打印专用陶瓷油墨的详细和系统研究，包括对固-固相互作用、固-液相互作用和溶液中静电斥力的研究。有关简单印刷单元的加工参数、热转换和最终性能的原理将应用于几何复杂的部件，从而使进一步的发现和后续研究成为可能。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will develop a novel class of versatile, high-yield, nanoparticle ceramic systems for Three-Dimensional Printing (3DP) of biocompatible composite materials for dental restoration applications. The project will focus on the innovation of nanoparticle ceramic materials systems for 3DP, which offer flexible composition, tailorable precursor viscosity, and produce a ceramic yield in the range 50-70 wt. percentage. Further yield increase can be obtained by introducing nanosized particle fillers to the binder inks. A key component in this effort is investigation of the interactions between the nanopowder and the transportation liquid, and the influence of the composition of the entire system on the sintering and densification behavior of printed parts. These issues are of immense technical importance for robust and reliable processing of inkjet printed ceramic objects, specifically with ongoing focus on improving the print resolution. Understanding the complex interplay between composition processing, processing-conversion and conversion-microstructure will provide fundamental ceramic processing knowledge as well as establish technical and commercial feasibility for producing competitive, commercially viable dental materials by 3DP rapid manufacturing using the novel nanoparticle inks. The broader (commercial) impact will be In addition to the commercial benefit and high potential economic payoff expected from a successful effort, the proposed project would have significant impact on broader inkjet and 3D printing research, as well as on the academic and career preparation of students at all levels. The impact on multipurpose, commercially viable inkjet and 3D printing derives from the detailed and systematic investigation of specific ceramic inks for inkjet printing, including the study of solid-solid interactions, solid-liquid interactions, and electrostatic repulsion in solution. The principles learned about processing parameters, thermal conversion, and final properties of the simple printed units will be applied to geometrically intricate parts, thereby enabling further discoveries and follow-on research.