BAM Research Group Develops Transparent Ceramic Components Using 3D Printing

A newly established research group at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) is working on the additive manufacturing of transparent ceramic microcomponents. The goal is to optimize the production of complex structures for technical, optical, and medical applications. The project is funded with €1.9 million over five years as part of the NanoMatFutur program by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Ceramic materials possess unique properties such as high temperature resistance, chemical durability, and low electrical conductivity, making them essential for applications in medical technology, optics, and mechanical engineering. However, processing ceramics remains challenging due to their brittle nature and the difficulty of shaping them into complex geometries, particularly for microstructures just a few hundred micrometers in size. The 3D printing technology developed by BAM aims to enable the efficient and precise production of such structures.

A key challenge lies in material development. To achieve high optical quality, ceramic printing materials must be formulated as suspensions—so-called “inks”—that produce transparent structures after processing. The research group, led by Johanna Sänger, is developing nanoscale ceramic particles that ensure uniform light transmission. This is particularly relevant for optical applications, such as light guides or optical sensors.

Johanna Sänger explains: “With our research, we aim to open up new application fields for 3D-printed ceramic microcomponents and bring this technology to industry. Particularly in the fields of medical technology and optical components like light guides, our work holds great potential for innovation.”

BAM is providing the project with state-of-the-art 3D printers, laboratories, and a high-performance IT infrastructure. Additionally, the initiative receives €10,000 annually from internal funds. The research group also benefits from BAM’s extensive experience in additive manufacturing and nanomaterials research.