Digital correlation image on 3D printed architected leadfree ferroelectric ceramics
Résumé
This study investigates the electromechanical behaviour of 3D printed architected ferroelectric ceramics (BaTiO₃), fabricated via a combination of digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing and conventional solid-state synthesis. Architectures featuring a single hexagonal or octagonal cell were digitally designed using Rhinoceros and Grasshopper software. The electrical behavior of the architected ceramics was evaluated under uniaxial electric fields up to ±1 kV/mm. Polarisation-electric field (P-E) hysteresis and electric-field-induced strain were measured using a custom test setup with oil immersion, Teflon insulation, and low-rigidity spring contacts to minimise mechanical constraints. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used to analyse local strain distributions. The results indicate that the geometry of the architecture strongly influences the electromechanical response. In particular, the octagonal design demonstrated enhanced polarisation and strain compared to the hexagonal structure, highlighting the role of architectural design in the functional properties of ferroelectric ceramics.