Lightweight high-heat-resistance zirconia ceramic lattice screws prepared by photocuring 3D printing technology

Zirconia ceramics are renowned for their exceptional thermal stability, corrosion resistance and wear resistance, making them a key material in the fields of aerospace and military defense. This study utilized finite element simulation to design and select a lattice model with the low thermal conductivity, and its mechanical properties were experimentally verified. The results indicated that the bending strength of the lattice structure could reach 433 MPa and the heat transfer temperature at the tail was significantly reduced with a cell size of 3 mm square and a wire diameter of 1 mm. Compared to traditional solid structures, the fill rate was reduced by 25.90 %. Therefore, the lattice structure exhibits characteristics of high strength, light weight and low thermal conductivity. Furthermore, lightweight and high-heat-resistance zirconia ceramic lattice screws were successfully fabricated via using photocuring 3D printing technology, achieving the transition from theoretical simulation to component application. The research in this work provides an effective strategy for the fabrication of ceramic lattice screws with lightweight and high-heat-resistance performances and exhibit the potential application in aerospace and military defense fields.