TY - JOUR A1 - Zocca, Andrea A1 - Franchin, Giorgia A1 - Elsayed, Hamada A1 - Gioffredi, Emilia A1 - Bernardo, Enrico A1 - Colombo, Paolo T1 - Direct Ink Writing of a Preceramic Polymer and Fillers to Produce Hardystonite (Ca2ZnSi2O7) Bioceramic Scaffolds N2 - The direct ink writing of an ink composed of a preceramic polymer and fillers was used to produce hardystonite (Ca2Zn-Si2O7) bioceramic scaffolds. Suitable formulations were developed for the extrusion of fine filaments (350 µm diameter) through a nozzle. The preceramic polymer was employed with the double purpose of contributing to the rheology of the ink by increasing its viscosity and of forming the hardystonite phase upon heat treatment by reacting with the fillers. A control of the rheology is essential when spanning features have to be produced, and therefore the main rheological characteristics of the inks were measured (flow curves, dynamic oscillation tests, viscosity recovery tests) and compared to models reported in the literature. Highly porous scaffolds (up to 80% total porosity) were produced and heat treated in air or in nitrogen atmosphere. The influence of the heat-treatment atmosphere on the morphology, crystalline phase assemblage, and compressive strength of the scaffolds was investigated. KW - Porous materials KW - Bioceramics KW - Polymer precursor KW - Processing PY - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.14213 VL - 6 IS - 99 SP - 1960 EP - 1967 PB - Wiley-Blackwell AN - OPUS4-38114 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -