Page 7 - MSAM-4-3

Materials Science in

Additive Manufacturing

REVIEW ARTICLE
Ceramic additive manufacturing via vat

photopolymerization

1
Chongyu Long , Zhiyuan Liu , Changyong Liu , and Zhangwei Chen *
1,2
1,2
1,2
1 Additive Manufacturing Institute, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
2 Guangdong Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Control and Intelligent Robotics, Shenzhen
University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Additive Manufacturing of High Performance Ceramics)

Abstract

Vat photopolymerization (VPP) additive manufacturing has emerged as a transformative
approach for fabricating high-performance ceramic components with intricate
geometries. This review comprehensively examines VPP technologies, including
stereolithography, digital light processing, and two-photon polymerization, highlighting
their mechanisms, advantages, and limitations. Critical challenges faced by ceramic
VPP include light scattering from particles, slurry viscosity control, sedimentation,
and post-processing shrinkage. The required optimized characteristics suitable for
VPP of ceramic slurries and pre-ceramic polymers are also discussed. The latter offers
a promising alternative, enabling the shaping of complex architectures with reduced
defects and enhanced thermal stability, supported by active/passive fillers that mitigate
shrinkage and improve density. Ceramic VPP applications span biomedical implants,
*Corresponding author: microreactors, aerospace components, and energy devices. Key advancements include
Zhangwei Chen the integration of multimaterial systems, hybrid precursors, and nanocomposites.
(chen@szu.edu.cn)
However, challenges persist in achieving uniform curing depths, minimizing anisotropic
Citation: Long C, Liu Z, shrinkage, and scaling production. Future research should focus on material innovation,
Liu C, Chen Z. Ceramic
additive manufacturing via vat process parameter optimization, and advanced characterization techniques to unlock
photopolymerization. Mater Sci Add the full potential of VPP for next-generation ceramic manufacturing. This technology
Manuf. 2025;4(3):025200031. offers an effective solution for high-value ceramic applications.
doi: 10.36922/MSAM025200031
Received: May 13, 2025
Keywords: Ceramics; Vat photopolymerization; Stereolithography; Slurries; Sintering
Revised: June 3, 2025
Accepted: June 4, 2025
Published online: July 11, 2025
1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article Additive manufacturing technologies have revolutionized the way we produce complex
distributed under the terms of the parts, offering a layer-by-layer approach to creating both two-dimensional (2D) and
Creative Commons Attribution three-dimensional (3D) components directly from computer-aided design (CAD)
License, permitting distribution,
1
and reproduction in any medium, models. These advanced techniques have attracted great attention for their capability
provided the original work is of producing intricate geometries without the need for additional tooling, making
properly cited. them highly cost-effective for rapid prototyping and final part production. The additive
Publisher’s Note: AccScience manufacturing landscape is diverse, encompassing seven main categories, including
Publishing remains neutral with powder bed fusion, binder jetting, material extrusion, and vat photopolymerization
regard to jurisdictional claims in 2
published maps and institutional (VPP). Among them, VPP technologies stand out for their scalability and ability to
affiliations. produce features ranging from micrometers to full-sized components. 3

Volume 4 Issue 3 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/MSAM025200031