Fabrication of crystal-oriented bulk piezoelectric ceramics by stereolithography in magnetic field

C-axis oriented (Sr,Ca)2NaNb5O15 (SCNN) piezoelectric bulk ceramics was prepared by repeating photopolymerization reaction in a magnetic field. The spin-coated sheet was held in a magnetic field for 150 seconds and then subjected to a photo-curing reaction to obtain a particle-oriented sheet. By repeating this process, a laminate was obtained. In the early stage of sintering, although the boundaries between the stacks were clearly observed, finally the microstructure became continuous and uniform by densification and grain-growth. The c-axis oriented SCNN ceramics had a piezoelectric constant remarkably higher than that measured from the randomly oriented sample. Therefore, it was clarified that the piezoelectric characteristics were improved even in the crystal-oriented ceramics produced by stereolithography in the magnetic field. These results indicate that stereolithography in the magnetic field is an effective manufacturing technique for producing grain-oriented bulk ceramics. ©2020 Japan Society of Powder and Powder Metallurgy.