Fabrication of grain oriented lead metaniobate components by fused deposition of ceramics

Grain-oriented lead-metaniobate (PbNb 2 O 6 ; PN) components have been fabricated by fused deposition of ceramics (FDC) process using templated grain growth technique. Needle-shaped PN seeds were synthesized for the templates by molten salt method. About 5 wt% seed was mixed with fine equiaxed matrix PN powder and compounded with a thermoplastic binder to obtain 52 vol% solids loading. Filaments extruded from the compounded materials were fed into FDC liquefier with a fine nozzle to prototype PN components through layer-by-layer deposition. SEM observations in the components showed that the seeds were aligned parallel to the deposition direction, surviving without major damage. By sintering at 1300 C, a highly oriented microstructure with orthorhombic phase was successfully obtained.