3D printing is an ideal technology to prepare complex-shaped ceramic cores

however

due to the layerby-layer molding of 3D printing

the as-prepared ceramic cores exhibit significant anisotropy in microstructure and properties. Silica-based ceramic cores were prepared using digital light processing

and anisotropy in microstructure and properties was adjusted through particle grading. When the mass ratio (particle grading) of coarse powder to fine powder is 8∶ 2

the ceramic slurry exhibits good fluidity and stability

and interlayer gap of the ceramic core almost disappears

exhibiting uniform microstructure with surface roughness of 2.9 μm. The shrinkage rates in X

Y

Z three-dimensional directions are 3.15%

3.08%

and 3.07%

indicating that the inhomogeneous shrinkage is alleviated. Interlayer strength is significantly lower than intralayer strength of ceramic cores. As particle grading changes from 6∶4 to 8∶2

the ratio of interlayer to intralayer strength increases from 0.40 to 0.62

indicating that the anisotropy of mechanical properties is alleviated. It is demonstrated that the structural and property anisotropy of 3D printed ceramic cores can be effectively controlled by particle grading

which provides a new technology to fabricating high-performance ceramic cores.