Center for Additive Manufacture of Advanced Ceramics

In July 2021, UNC Charlotte was awarded a $1,250,000 grant by The University of North Carolina System Research Opportunities Initiative (ROI)* program to establish a Center for Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Ceramics (CAMAC). Based at UNC Charlotte, CAMAC brings together UNC System researchers, industry and government laboratories with the goal of driving innovation within the ceramics additive manufacturing (AM) process chain. The scope of the CAMAC includes three main AM pillars:

Materials for ceramic AM
Advancing processing capabilities
Enhancing post processing.

Both existing and new resources will be utilized to enhance ceramic AM research infrastructure and to build a strong vibrant ceramic AM community.

Planned activities include

Seed funding to initiate research projects and promote new collaborations
Bi-annual meetings convening the community providing research updates and CAMAC updates.
Equipment procurement (stereolithography printer, furnaces, etc.)
Travel grants to engage with industry and promote collaboration

Opportunities provided by engaging with CAMAC

Access to a community of ceramic AM researchers and industry partners
Keep informed of industry trends and needs via the bi-annual meetings
The potential to initiate new research topics aligned with your interests
Access to graduate students versed in ceramic AM and associated technology needs

Available Equipment

Printers

3DCeram C100 (Stereolithography @ 405nm)
3DCeram MAT (Filament)
Tethon Bison 1000 (Digital Light Projection @ 405nm)
3D Potter 10 Pro (Extrusion)
Prusa SL1S Speed (SLA)
Omtech USB460a Laser

Furnaces

Sentro Tech (1800°C Muffle Box)
Hobersal for debinding (1200°C/ Nitrogen Atmosphere)

Cleaning

3DCeram cleaning station

Feedstock preparation

Analytical tools

Zetasizer Ultra Blue
ACCUPYC III Gas displacement pycnometer and scale
Sync Laser Diffraction and Dynamic Image Analysis hybrid system
OCA 15EC dataphysics goniometers for wettability and surface tension
Mark-10 F505-EM tension and compression
Ohaus precision weighing scale (200 g x 0.0001 g)
Surface and dimensional metrology equipment accessible via the Center for Precision Metrology

Funding Opportunities

Faculty associated with the CAMAC can apply for the following opportunities:

Travel grants – expired

Current projects underway include:

Additive Formation of Ordered Ceramic Nanocomposites using Selective Laser Melting, H. Zhang (UNC Charlotte)
A Self-Healing UHTC-reinforced Composite using Selective Laser-induced Reaction Sintering (SLRS) Process for High-Temperature Thermal Stability, C. Xu & T. Fang (NC State)
Additive Manufacturing of High-Entropy Ceramics: Next Generation Ultra-high Temperature Ceramics, Q. Wei (UNC Charlotte)
Stereolithography of SiC for advanced manufacturing for materials for Harsh Environments – S. Schmid (UNC Charlotte)
Correlating Component Integrity with Surface Characteristics at Each Stage of Ceramic AM Manufacturing – A. Allen & B. Mullany (UNC Charlotte)
Direct Ink Writing of SiC/C Ceramic Matrix Composites – Y. Chen & E. Joyee (UNC Charlotte)
Immersive Training for Additive Manufacturing of Technical Ceramics using Augmented Reality – J. Outeiro (UNC Charlotte)

Completed projects:

Stereolithography of Silicon Carbide – Steve Schmid & Brigid Mullany (UNC Charlotte)
3D printing/Additive manufacturing of photocurable silicone carbide-polymer composite with densified microstructures – Erina Baynojir Joyee & Ahmed El-Ghannam (UNC Charlotte)
3D Printing of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs) using Selective Laser-induced Reaction Sintering (SLRS) Process – C. Xu & T. Fang (NC State)
Discrete Element Method Analysis of Ceramic Powders for Advanced Manufacturing – Taher Abu-Ledbeh (NC A&T)
Spatial Analysis of Additively Manufactured Ceramic Surfaces – Brigid Mullany (UNC Charlotte)

Meetings

The next CAMAC meeting will be held on June 20, 2025, via Zoom and in person at UNC Charlotte. The agenda for the June meeting can be downloaded. Contact bamullan@charlotte.edu for the Zoom link.

Download Agenda

Past Meetings

June 2024: Agenda
December 2023: Agenda
June 2023: Agenda
April 2023: Agenda
November 2022: Agenda and Intro slides
July 2022: Agenda
May 2022: Agenda and Intro slides
November 2021: Agenda
October 2020: The Ceramics Additive Manufacturing Workshop (precursor to CAMAC) – Agenda