Microstructural and mechanical behaviours of Y-TZP prepared via slip-casting and fused deposition modelling (FDM)

This paper reports the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of yttria-stabilized zirconia prepared via fused deposition modelling and slip casting. X-Ray Diffraction peaks indicated that yttria-stabilized zirconia crystallized in tetragonal structure for both slip casted(SC) and fused deposition modelled(FDM) samples. Further, scanning electron microscopy of slip casted sample showcased closely packed structure with fine grains and an average grain size of ∼65 nm whilst fused deposition modelled samples showcased non-homogeneous pores with ∼20 nm grain size. Average relative density of slip casted samples was ∼99.4 % while that of fused deposition modelled sample exhibited ∼96.2 %. The Vickers Hardness of slip casted (∼15.26 ± 0.4 GPa) was ∼10 % higher than the fused deposition modelled samples (∼13.79 ± 0.3 GPa). Likewise, indentation fracture toughness of slip casted (5.78 ± 0.5 MPa m1/2) was 14 % higher than fused deposition modelled samples which could have been due to the change in grain size as well as porosity of the ceramics. Compressive strength of the fused deposition modelled samples was 32 % less than slip casted samples (∼510 ± 10 MPa) due to its non-homogenous pores which led to weakening van der Waals force of attraction.

Zinc oxide pieces obtained by pressing and slip casting: physical, structural and photocatalytic properties

Photocatalysis is a promising alternative for the decontamination of effluents. In this paper, immobilized ZnO-based photocatalysts were obtained by pressing and by slip casting. The cylindrical pieces were heat-treated at 800°C. The samples were characterized by the method based on the principle of Archimedes, XRD, FTIR, Raman, diffuse reflectance and SEM. The samples obtained by slip casting presented lower apparent density (3.12 ± 0.04 g/cm³), higher apparent porosity (44.87 ± 0.47%) and smaller grain size (0.48 ± 0.05 µm) when compared to the pressed samples, with mean apparent density of 5.37 ± 0.08 g/cm³, apparent porosity of 1.56 ± 0.10% and grain size of 0.64 ± 0.02 µm. The performances of the samples were attested by the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV-C irradiation (maximum intensity at 254 nm). The samples obtained by slip casting showed photocatalytic degradation between 80% and 90%, while the pressed samples showed degradation between 40% and 60%. The reuse of the photocatalysts was evaluated over five cycles of photocatalytic degradation, in which there was no loss of performance of the samples obtained by slip casting; however, the pressed samples showed a loss of photocatalytic efficiency starting from the third-cycle. Photocatalytic assays were carried out with different dye concentrations, in which the slip casting samples showed better photocatalytic efficiency (degradation of 80% for a RhB concentration of 10 mg/L) due to higher porosity and surface area compared to pressed samples, and there was a loss of performance in higher concentrations.