Abstract: Methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus are provided for additive manufacture resulting in the 3D printing of ceramic materials and components with a thickness greater than three millimeters (3 mm). A sulfur-free 3D printable formulation comprises a liquid inorganic polymer resin using Stereolithograpy (SLA) printers and Digital Light Processing (DLP) curing of the polymer resin via the chemical bonding of the materials rather than sintering. Thus, the process has shorter manufacturing intervals, significantly lower energy use and produces larger scale ceramic components having less linear shrinkage, less mass loss and high ceramic yield with no corrosive sulfur compounds present in the ceramic component.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and processes are used to prepare novel ceramic composite structures that are strong, durable, light-weight, high performance and suitable for a myriad of industrial applications, including, but not limited to, ceramic plates of material suitable for use as ballistic armor. The low manufacturing costs of the processes disclosed provide cheaper, faster ways of producing ceramic matrix composites at lower temperatures and allow for the existence of composite materials and structures which currently are not available.

Abstract: Methods for producing Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDCs) particles and bulk ceramic components and compositions from partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursors and unique bulk composite PDC ceramics and unique PDC ceramic particles in size and composition. Methods of making fully dense PDCs over approximately 2 ?m to approximately 300 mm in diameter for applications such as but not limited to proppants, hybrid ball bearings, catalysts, and the like. Methods can include emulsion processes or spray processes to produce PDCs. The ceramic particles and compositions can be shaped and chemically and materially augmented with enhancement particles in the liquid resin or gelatinous polymeric state before being pyrolyzed into ceramic components. Nano-sized ceramic particles are formed from the green body produced by methods for making bulk, dense composite ceramics. The resulting ceramic components have a very smooth surface and are fully dense, not porous as ceramic components from the sol-gel process.

Abstract: Methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus are provided for additive manufacture resulting in the 3D printing of novel ceramic composites. Additive manufacture or 3D printing of bulk ceramic and ceramic composite components occurs at considerably lower temperatures and shorter manufacturing intervals than the current state of the art. The methods, processes, systems, devices and apparatus and selection of precursor resins produce ceramic and ceramic composite material systems which have not been produced before by 3D printing.

Abstract: Methods for producing Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDCs) particles and bulk ceramic components and compositions from partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursors and unique bulk composite PDC ceramics and unique PDC ceramic particles in size and composition. Methods of making fully dense PDCs over approximately 2 ?m to approximately 300 mm in diameter for applications such as but not limited to proppants, hybrid ball bearings, catalysts, and the like. Methods can include emulsion processes or spray processes to produce PDCs. The ceramic particles and compositions can be shaped and chemically and materially augmented with enhancement particles in the liquid resin or gelatinous polymeric state before being pyrolyzed into ceramic components. The resulting ceramic components have a very smooth surface and are fully dense, not porous as ceramic components from the sol-gel process.

Abstract: Methods, processes, and systems for producing bulk ceramics from agglomerations of partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursor resin droplets, without using sponge materials to form gas pathways in the polymer bodies. Ceramics can be formed in hours. Resin droplets can be produced with a sprayer where liquid polymer precursors, mixed with a curing agent, are sprayed forming droplets which are partially cured, collected, and compressed into shapes. Ceramic porosity can be varied, droplet particle sizes can be controlled by adjusting liquid and gas pressure, orifice size, during spraying. Partially cured droplets can be formed via an emulsion process and size controlled by emulsion liquid and surfactant selection parameters.

Abstract: Methods, processes, and systems for producing bulk ceramics from agglomerations of partially cured gelatinous polymer ceramic precursor resin droplets, without using sponge materials to form gas pathways in the polymer bodies. Ceramics can be formed in hours. Resin droplets can be produced with a sprayer where liquid polymer precursors, mixed with a curing agent, are sprayed forming droplets which are partially cured, collected, and compressed into shapes. Ceramic porosity can be varied, droplet particle sizes can be controlled by adjusting liquid and gas pressure, orifice size, during spraying. Partially cured droplets can be formed via an emulsion process and size controlled by emulsion liquid and surfactant selection parameters.