Ceramic components manufactured from powders are usually formed into shapes by using molds or dies. In our approach, a ceramic component is formed by coating flat substrates and then heating the composite body to high temperature, where it deforms into the desired shape. A ceramic wave spring formed by this inexpensive and innovative method is shown at the top right.

Under certain circumstances, a mechanical bifurcation occurs, as seen at right, whereby instead of obtaining a curved arc as in a), a tube-like structure is formed as in b). The bifurcation, which can be controlled by varying the thickness of the coating, can be used to drive the deformation to achieve additional part complexity.

FORMING OF CERAMICS DURING FIRING WITHOUT FORMING OF CERAMICS DURING FIRING WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL PRESSURETHE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL PRESSURE

S. J. Lombardo, University of Missouri, DMR 0203136S. J. Lombardo, University of Missouri, DMR 0203136

(a)

(b)

FORMING OF CERAMICS DURING FIRING WITHOUT FORMING OF CERAMICS DURING FIRING WITHOUT THE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL PRESSURETHE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL PRESSURE

S. J. Lombardo, University of Missouri, DMR 020313S. J. Lombardo, University of Missouri, DMR 020313

C. S. Kim has recently graduated with a Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Material Science with an emphasis in ceramic materials and ceramic processing. He has recently accepted a research position in a government lab where he is combining his educational background with his thesis research to develop ceramic membranes for the high temperature separation of hydrogen from other gases. This is thus a multidisciplinary project directed at next generation clean fuels.