Fig. 2: Operation and performance of the USS process.
From: Programmable and rapid fabrication of complex-shape ceramics
a Schematic of the USS platform, comprising three precision moving drivers and one carbon-felt Joule heater. b Schematic illustration of a typical USS process for twisting ceramics, in which the ceramic green compact is clamped by carbon felts and then heated for forming shapes before sintering to crystalline ceramics. c The temperature profile and the digital images of the processing element as well as USS specimen. The high heating and cooling rates of the USS process enable us to shape and sinter ceramics in a few minutes. d Photograph of the twisted BT ceramic and SEM images of the BT ceramic during twisting. e Digital image of processing the arch-shape BT ceramic where the powder compact is bent against gravity direction. f Comparison of piezoelectric constants d33 between the twisted BT ceramic presented in this study and current complex-shape BT-based piezoelectric materials ref. 34,35,36,37,38,39,40. g Comparison of the processing time of our USS method with those of existing ceramic shaping methods ref. 12,14,24,45.
