A review of additive manufacturing of ceramics by powder bed selective laser processing (sintering / melting): Calcium phosphate, silicon carbide, zirconia, alumina, and their composites

This review offers an overview on the latest advances in the powder bed selective laser processing, known as selective laser sintering/melting, of calcium phosphate, silicon carbide, zirconia, alumina, and some of their composites. A number of published studies between 1991 and August 2020 was collected, analyzed and an inclusive state of the art was created for this review. The paper focuses on the process description, feedstock criteria and process parameters and strategy. A comparison is made between direct and indirect powder bed selective laser processing of each ceramic, regarding the present achievements, limitations and solutions. In addition, technical aspects and challenges about how to address these issues are presented.