Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing a substance having an improved tensile strength for additive manufacturing. The method can include providing raw material having a first tensile strength. The raw material can include a polymer. The method can include providing a filler material. The filler material can include clay, single wall carbon nanotubes, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, or boron nitride. The method can include cavitating, within a hydrodynamic cavitation chamber, the raw material and the filler material to produce a substance having a second tensile strength greater than the first tensile strength.

Abstract: Provided in one implementation is a method that includes introducing a volume of raw material into a chamber of a cavitation machine. The raw material can include a mixture comprising a powder and a solvent. The powder can have a first average particle size in the raw material. The method includes applying a hydrodynamic cavitation process to the raw material to produce a product material. The powder can have a second average particle size, smaller than the first average particle size, in the product material. The method includes causing the product material to exit the cavitation chamber and drying the product material to remove the solvent. Apparatus employed to apply the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making paste for solar cells. The method can include forcing silver through a feed tube coupled to a hydrodynamic cavitation chamber using an air-driven piston. The method can include subjecting the silver to hydrodynamic cavitation in the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber by using a hydraulic pump to pass the silver sequentially through a primary orifice, a secondary orifice, and a final orifice within the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber to produce the paste for the solar cells. The silver can include up to three unique silver powders having a total particle size distribution from 0.1 microns to 10 microns. A first silver powder can have a first average particle size of 1.5 um, a second silver powder having a second average particle size of 0.5 um, and a third silver powder having a third average particle size of 0.2 um.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making paste for solar cells. The method can include forcing silver through a feed tube coupled to a hydrodynamic cavitation chamber using an air-driven piston. The method can include subjecting the silver to hydrodynamic cavitation in the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber by using a hydraulic pump to pass the silver sequentially through a primary orifice, a secondary orifice, and a final orifice within the hydrodynamic cavitation chamber to produce the paste for the solar cells. The silver can include up to three unique silver powders having a total particle size distribution from 0.1 microns to 10 microns. A first silver powder can have a first average particle size of 1.5 um, a second silver powder having a second average particle size of 0.5 um, and a third silver powder having a third average particle size of 0.2 um.

Abstract: Provided in one implementation is a method that includes introducing a volume of raw material into a chamber of a cavitation machine. The raw material can include a mixture comprising a powder and a solvent. The powder can have a first average particle size in the raw material. The method includes applying a hydrodynamic cavitation process to the raw material to produce a product material. The powder can have a second average particle size, smaller than the first average particle size, in the product material. The method includes causing the product material to exit the cavitation chamber and drying the product material to remove the solvent. Apparatus employed to apply the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one implementation is a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The method can include depositing a substantially uniform layer of raw material onto a substrate. The raw material can include ceramic particles. The method can include selectively fusing particles of the raw material to form a first layer of the object. The method can include clearing non-fused particles of the raw material from the first layer of the object. The method can include repeating the steps of depositing a raw material, selectively fusing particles of the raw material, and clearing non-fused particles of the raw material to form additional layers of the object above the first layer.

Abstract: Provided in one implementation is a method that includes introducing a volume of raw material into a chamber of a cavitation machine. The raw material can include a mixture comprising a powder and a solvent. The powder can have a first average particle size in the raw material. The method includes applying a hydrodynamic cavitation process to the raw material to produce a product material. The powder can have a second average particle size, smaller than the first average particle size, in the product material. The method includes causing the product material to exit the cavitation chamber and drying the product material to remove the solvent. Apparatus employed to apply the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: applying a hydrodynamic cavitation process to a raw material comprising particles comprising a metal-containing material or a carbon containing material of a first size to produce a slurry having particles comprising the metal-containing material or the carbon-containing material of a second size, smaller than the first size; and tape casting the slurry to form a green tape. Apparatuses employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one implementation is a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The method can include depositing a substantially uniform layer of raw material onto a substrate. The raw material can include ceramic particles. The method can include selectively fusing particles of the raw material to form a first layer of the object. The method can include clearing non-fused particles of the raw material from the first layer of the object. The method can include repeating the steps of depositing a raw material, selectively fusing particles of the raw material, and clearing non-fused particles of the raw material to form additional layers of the object above the first layer.

Abstract: Provided in one implementation is a method that includes introducing a volume of raw material into a chamber of a cavitation machine. The raw material can include a mixture comprising a powder and a solvent. The powder can have a first average particle size in the raw material. The method includes applying a hydrodynamic cavitation process to the raw material to produce a product material. The powder can have a second average particle size, smaller than the first average particle size, in the product material. The method includes causing the product material to exit the cavitation chamber and drying the product material to remove the solvent. Apparatus employed to apply the method are also provided.

Abstract: Piezoelectric devices are provided. A device can include a top electrode, a first piezoelectric layer having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the top electrode, a first center electrode having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the first piezoelectric layer, an insulating layer having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the first center electrode, a second center electrode having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the insulating layer, a second piezoelectric layer having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the second center electrode, and a bottom electrode having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the second piezoelectric layer. The insulating layer can be positioned substantially at a vertical center of the piezoelectric device. The first center electrode can be electrically connected to the second center electrode.

Abstract: Piezoelectric devices are provided. A device can include a top electrode, a first piezoelectric layer having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the top electrode, a first center electrode having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the first piezoelectric layer, an insulating layer having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the first center electrode, a second center electrode having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the insulating layer, a second piezoelectric layer having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the second center electrode, and a bottom electrode having an upper surface disposed on a lower surface of the second piezoelectric layer. The insulating layer can be positioned substantially at a vertical center of the piezoelectric device. The first center electrode can be electrically connected to the second center electrode.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: applying a hydrodynamic cavitation process to a raw material comprising particles comprising a metal-containing material or a carbon containing material of a first size to produce a slurry having particles comprising the metal-containing material or the carbon-containing material of a second size, smaller than the first size; and tape casting the slurry to form a green tape. Apparatuses employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided in one embodiment is a method of making, comprising: exposing a raw material having a first viscosity to a first pressure and a first temperature such that the raw material after the exposure has a second viscosity, wherein the raw material comprises particles comprising at least one electrically conductive material, and wherein the second viscosity is sufficiently low for the raw material to be adapted for a hydrodynamic cavitation process; and subjecting the raw material having the second viscosity to the hydrodynamic cavitation process to make a product material having a third viscosity. Apparatus employed to apply the method and the exemplary compositions made in accordance with the method are also provided.