Open Access Conference Proceedings

<div>Additive manufacturing of titanium and its alloys traditionally relies on powder bed fusion techniques, which consume substantial energy. Vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing offers design flexibility similar to powder bed fusion techniques, improved resolution, and a notable reduction in energy consumption. This method involves selectively polymerizing a photosensitive resin by projecting light images of the desired cross-section. While commonly used for polymers and, to a lesser extent, ceramics, its application to produce metallic objects has been restricted due to light scattering hindering resin polymerization. This study initially explores vat photopolymerization and debinding of two commercial resins and their slurries with titanium powder. Secondly, vat photopolymerization was employed to fabricate polymeric porous templates, which were impregnated with a titanium slurry, followed by thermal removal of the template and sintering to consolidate the titanium structure. Faithful replicates of the polymeric template were achieved, demonstrating the potential to create intricate porous titanium structures. To achieve this, optimization of the solid fraction of titanium in the slurry and a refined debinding process are essential to reduce significant shrinkage and prevent chemical contamination during sintering.</div>

Keywords: Titanium, vat photopolymerization, replica, sintering

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