(292e) Polymer/Amorphous Silica Composites Via Direct Ink Writing

Amorphous silica glasses have been an essential material to society for ages, due to their exceptional thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties. Traditional manufacturing methods have limited the applications of this material. Utilizing 3D printing techniques to fabricate silica glass composites leverages the unique advantages of both polymer and silica components to achieve complex geometries not achievable by traditional manufacturing methods. By applying a unique combination of polymer and ceramic precursors, we can significantly improve manufacturability from shaping to drying to sintering, greatly complexifying geometries while maintaining quality. Our composition features significantly lower shrinkage due to the implementation of a bimodal particle size distribution. This approach also enables localized compositional tuning, enhanced design freedom, and potential integration with multi-material systems, broadening the scope of silica glass applications in advanced technologies. These advancements open up new possibilities in fields such as optics, microelectronics, and thermal protection systems.