Strength of Sintered Alumina Lattices: Effects of Purity and Density

Alumina (Al₂O₃) is a ceramic valued for its strength, heat resistance, and wear durability, making it ideal for aerospace, military, and electromechanical applications. Its brittleness, however, limits traditional manufacturing of complex shapes. Additive manufacturing (AM), especially lithography-based ceramic manufacturing (LCM), enables greater design flexibility and faster production. While commercial alumina slurries exist, researchers develop custom formulations offering tunable properties but facing challenges in balancing printability, density, and accuracy. This study examines how alumina purity and lattice density impact the mechanical performance and shrinkage of 3D printed and sintered lattices. Two slurries with different purities were used to print lattices at varying densities, then tested for compressive strength and energy absorption. The Gibson-Ashby model predicted elastic and strength behavior, aiding the understanding of structure-property relationships in printed alumina.