Electrophoretic Deposition as Shaping Technique - A CAM Approach

Abstract

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a potential-enhanced technique for fabricating near-netshaped geometries. Its advantage is the independence of particle velocity from particle size so that optimum package densities are achieved by using powder mixtures. If the deposit is formed on a membrane that is located between the two electrodes, aqueous suspensions can be used because the formation of bubbles caused by the electrolytic decomposition of water and the deposition are separated in space. Combining EPD with a CAM system, any structure can be individually near-netshaped. In the present study, the geometry for an electrode for the use with a CAM system is theoretically developed by simulating the distribution of the electric field in EPD and finally fabricated in order to investigate its deposition properties. First of all, spot-wise deposits are fabricated on a membrane so that theoretical predictions and experimental results can be compared. Secondly, a translative motion of the electrode along the membrane is controlled by a CAM system. The so fabricated two-dimensional structures are rectangles and circles whereas the fineness as well as the structural integrity are investigated. This approach will be further developed in future to enable the fast fabrication of individual geometries with excellent green body properties.