Leak-Tight 3D-Printed Ceramic Components for Chemical Reactors of the Future
3D-printed part filled with a pre-ceramic silicon carbide polymer intended to produce amorphous silicon carbide (Source: Amy Smotherman Burgess/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy)
September 26 2025 – Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Dimensional Energy say they have taken a new step in ceramic 3D printing. They developed a combination of 3D printing and post-treatment that produces leak-tight ceramic material, which ORNL considers essential for the development of high-throughput chemical reactors of the future. The new method is scalable while retaining the advantages of ceramics (high temperature and chemical resistance). ORNL calls it the first leak-tight 3D-printed joint and anticipates applications in the process industry and energy. The research is published in Ceramics International under the title “Packing density optimization and recyclability of multi-modal SiC powder feedstocks in binder jet additive manufacturing” (doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.07.410).
