Viscoelastic Paste-Based Ceramic vat Photopolymerization: Recent Achievements and Future Developments

Ceramic vat photopolymerization (VPP) enables the fabrication of complex components with excellent properties and high precision. However, compared with metals and polymers, the industrial application of ceramic VPPs remains relatively limited. This can be attributed to the challenges associated with ceramic feedstock printability, the complexity of the printing process, insufficient performance evaluation, and service verification. To overcome these limitations, the design of a viscoelastic paste and corresponding VPP strategies offer a promising solution. This paper presents a review of the research on the state of viscoelastic ceramic paste-based VPP. The main technical aspects, including the paste design, support strategies, green-body cleaning, and subsequent post-treatment, are discussed. Furthermore, representative applications of VPP for various types of advanced ceramics are surveyed. This review also highlights the technical challenges involved and provides suggestions for addressing these issues. Finally, future directions for promoting the additive manufacturing of advanced ceramic components with enhanced efficiency and reliability are discussed.