Shaping of engineering ceramics by electro, chemical and physical processes

Thanks to the favourable combination of outstanding mechanical, thermal and chemical properties, engineering ceramics find widespread applications in the modern industry. Nevertheless, their extensive use is still hindered by the implementation of a labour and cost intensive manufacturing chain. Electro, chemical and physical shaping techniques, like electrical discharge machining, additive manufacturing and laser beam machining, have recently been investigated to offer efficient alternatives. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the current technological trends and main perspectives on electro, chemical and physical shaping of engineering ceramics with a focus on experimental works. The literature data trace back to the 80s. (C) 2016 CIRP.