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IntrinSiC® makes additive manufacturing of highly complex ceramic structures possible
3D printing in a completely new dimension
Reading time: 2 Minute(s)
Date: February 8, 2021
3D Printing

Complex shapes, high quality and numerous sizes from RBSiC

Ceramic solutions from Schunk keep going when other materials throw in the towel. The IntrinSiC® 3D printing technique makes it possible to manufacture highly-complex ceramic structures while using silicon carbide (RBSiC) with its nearly diamond-like hardness – thus creating new applications for even the most demanding of customers.

Complex shapes, high quality and numerous sizes from RBSiC

Schunk is elevating additive manufacturing to a whole new level. Because with IntrinSiC®, the 3D printing technique with silicon-carbide design elements, components made of ceramic materials are now feasible in even more complex shapes, higher quantities, and in numerous sizes. Extremely temperature resistant, hard and shatterproof, RBSiC material stands out for its cost effectiveness and energy efficiency, and hence it facilitates the design of reliable production processes. Arising from the aspiration to meet the high demands of its customers, Schunk has succeeded in increasing the homogeneity of this extremely hard material, thus significantly improving the reliability and strength of the 3D printing parts produced with it.

In comparison with other methods, this technique permits the manufacture of considerably more complex and larger structures. It also eliminates the need for the time-consuming production of casting molds. Instead, geometries can be changed by a simple click of the mouse. In addition to its outstanding temperature resistance, RBSiC is also characterized by a high resilience to oxidation and corrosion, greater bending and creep strength as well as by its low density.

IntrinSiC meets the high requirements in thermal process technology

Since the world debut of IntrinSiC® in 2015, several application possibilities have been spawned through continued development of the material, for example in the field of kiln furniture, which is used in industrial furnaces. Ceramic components such as recuperative burners provide the utmost in efficiency here. They are used, among other things, in all-ceramic systems for the indirect heating of heat-treatment furnaces. The recuperative preheating of the air is particularly interesting in times of high energy prices as substantial amounts of energy can be saved by preheating the combustion air in the burner head. The innovative IntrinSiC® manufacturing solution allows companies to produce even highly-complex components using 3D printing.

IntrinSiC: competitive advantage through innovation

As a first mover in this sector, Schunk furthermore offers its expert knowledge as a service: the company supports its customers with the engineering design of components through the use of FEA (finite element analysis), in order to optimize reliability, weight savings and the properties of the mechanical structures.

Moreover, customers benefit from innovative IntrinSiC® technology thanks to higher degrees of process and design flexibility. Components can be immediately produced via CAD data, which permits short production-lead and delivery times possible. The surfaces of the diamond-hard material are immediately polishable.