PROSPECTS OF USING DLP 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE MEMBRANE CERAMIC MODULES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15421/jchemtech.v33i2.317663Keywords:
3D printing, DLP technology, photopolymer resin, ceramic membranes, kaolin, membrane modulesAbstract
The ongoing evolution of 3D printing technologies demonstrates considerable potential for the production of porous ceramics, including ceramic matrices. These technologies enable the creation of three-dimensional structures with high complexity and precision from a variety of raw materials. This study assesses the feasibility of utilising DLP 3D printing technology to produce ceramic matrices and membrane holders for the development of ceramic membrane modules. To fabricate ceramic matrices by this method, it was proposed to use natural Ukrainian kaolin as the ceramic component in a photopolymer-based suspension. It was found that increasing the kaolin concentration (from 0–40 wt.%) in the suspension fed for 3D printing leads to an rise in viscosity, and with an increase in temperature at which the kaolin was pretreated prior to suspension preparation (0–600 °C), it decreases. The physicochemical processes occurring during kaolin heating were characterised by thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption. The results demonstrate that heating kaolin above 450 °C triggers dehydroxylation, while heating to 640 °C leads to its transformation into metakaolinite. Consequently, the infrared bands corresponding to structural water disappear, and the specific surface area, determined using the BET model, decreases from 22.8 m2/g to 15.2 m2/g. The reduction in viscosity of the suspension with thermally treated kaolin is likely due to diminished interactions between kaolin particles and the photopolymer resin after structural water removal. Modelling and preparation for 3D printing of ceramic matrices and membrane holders were performed using Autodesk Fusion 360 and the Anycubic Photon Workshop slicing software. The results indicate that the DLP method produced structurally integral ceramic matrices and successfully printed membrane holders. Thus, DLP 3D printing technology offers significant prospects for fabricating tailored ceramic matrices and membrane holders.
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