3D Printing of Silicon Nitride Ceramics and Exploration of Their Properties

Abstract

Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) offers significant advantages such as high strength, high hardness, thermal shock resistance, good stability, wear resistance, and chemical corrosion resistance. It is lighter than many other materials, has a low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent thermal shock resistance, and high fracture toughness. Leveraging these advantages, it has found promising applications in aerospace, the military industry, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, and other fields. In the future, it is expected to unleash greater value through the innovative development of big data and artificial intelligence technologies. The author believes that traditional silicon nitride forming processes face insurmountable challenges, making it necessary to use 3D printing technology—with its own unique advantages—to mitigate risks and enhance performance and utility. This paper discusses the 3D printing of silicon nitride ceramics and their properties, providing a detailed analysis to offer references for relevant practitioners.