A large number of technical manufacturing processes are based on the specific temperature control of process goods or chemical reagents. Due to their technical properties, ceramic materials and technologies are suitable for implementing selected heater applications in the geometrically mesoscale range. One example is a highly dynamic and actively cooled matrix heater for the generation of fast temperature cycles. These consist of individual pixels that are combined to form a matrix. Supported by a simulation-based design of these components, well-known technologies such as thick film technology are symbiotically combined with modern techniques of additive manufacturing of ceramic materials at the Fraunhofer IKTS.
The production of the basic structures is based on ceramic materials and technologies. Ceramic materials can only be machined at great expense due to their typical high hardness and low ductility. Here, additive manufacturing processes represent "game changers", since complex geometries can be realized close to the final contour and functions, such as cooling channels, can be realized even in small volumes. The use of these methods results in increased geometric degrees of freedom and completely new areas of application. The optimized and additively manufactured ceramic components are functionalized using the well-known thick-film technologies. Electrical circuits, heating elements and sensors are printed in a structured manner and fired onto the ceramic basic structure. Electrical contacting is achieved by means of advanced assembly and connection technology. Solutions up to temperatures of 350°C have been successfully realized. Applications up to 600°C are currently being tested. Temperature gradients of up to 70 K/s have been demonstrated successfully.
The presentation will demonstrate the current possibilities concerning the materials and technologies for creating this type of element. Two implementation examples are discussed in the contribution.