Home-AMA: Energy Insights Nanoe outlines ceramic additive manufacturing opportunities for new energy applications
As theAMA:Energyconference returns this week to focus on qualified parts, real-world deployment, and energy-sector constraints, ceramic additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly relevant to these discussions. At theAMA: Energy 2025, speakers highlighted the challenges of moving beyond prototyping toward certified components capable of operating in extreme environments.
In this context,Nanoepresented its approach to ceramic 3D printing using standard FDM equipment during a talk by Guillaume de Calan. The French advanced materials provider outlined how itsZetamixfilament platform could enable complex, high-temperature ceramic components for applications including burners, heat exchangers, and nuclear energy research, areas likely to feature prominently at the next AMA:Energy conference.
Ceramic 3D printing using standard FDM equipment
Unlike many ceramic additive manufacturing systems that rely on dedicated hardware, Nanoe’s Zetamix process is designed to work with standard FDM printers commonly used for polymer printing. Printed parts are subsequently subjected to chemical and thermal debinding, followed by sintering to achieve dense ceramic components.
According to the company, this reliance on widely available equipment reduces capital investment requirements and lowers the barrier to entry for ceramic additive manufacturing, particularly in energy-related R&D and early-stage industrialization. The filament-based approach also enables access to a broad materials portfolio, including alumina, zirconia (white and black), silicon carbide, custom ceramics, and technical metals such as 316L, H13, and 17-4 PH, as well as porcelain.
The growing availability of high-performance ceramic and metal feedstocks was consistent with the emphasis on new materials seen across industrial additive manufacturing atFormnext 2025.
Why ceramics matter for energy systems
During the presentation, Nanoe emphasized that the appeal of ceramics in energy applications is driven primarily by material properties rather than additive manufacturing alone. High temperature resistance remains a defining advantage, with materials such as alumina, silicon carbide, and zirconia capable of operating at temperatures up to and beyond 1,500°C.
Beyond thermal stability, ceramics offer tunable thermal behavior, ranging from insulation to high thermal conductivity, alongside critical electrical properties. Alumina, for example, is widely used as an electrical insulator, while zirconia exhibits ion conductivity. Resistance to hot, humid, and corrosive environments further positions ceramics for use in demanding energy systems.
Source: 3D Printing Industry
