Near net shape manufacturing of ceramics

Reduction of shrinkage during fabrication of ceramic components is of particular importance for reduction of machining costs, improvement of dimensional accuracy as well as uniformity of microstructure and properties of complex shaped components. Processing techniques based on infiltration of fluid phases into porous preforms, reactions between condensed constituents in a green compact and porosity redistribution methods involving novel biomimetic approaches are considered. Basic limitations of novel near net shape techniques will be discussed and potential applications are introduced.