Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol.102, No.11, 6498-6506, 2019
Hierarchical cellular scaffolds fabricated via direct foam writing using gelled colloidal particle-stabilized foams as the ink
Hierarchical cellular architectures hold great potential in a vast range of applications due to their superior mechanical properties and multifunctionality. In the present work, hierarchical structures composed of porous struts patterned in the form of quadrangular and triangular honeycombs were fabricated via direct foam writing (DFW) using colloidal particle-stabilized Al2O3-MgO-SiO2 foams as the ink. Hydration process of MgO and subsequent formation of colloidal Mg(OH)(2) network endowed the foam ink with viscoelasticity and high storage modulus. The resulting honeycombs with ultrahigh overall porosity (95.3%) and robust compressive strength (2.5 MPa) can be readily fabricated by DFW. The current work exhibits a significant step toward the scalable production of cellular ceramics with hierarchical architecture for various applications, including tissue scaffolds, catalyst supports, thermal insulation, and lightweight structures.
Keywords:colloidal Mg(OH)(2);direct foam writing;hierarchical cellular scaffolds;mechanical properties;particle-stabilized foams