Methods of additive manufacturing for ceramics using microwaves

An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a ceramic part, the apparatus comprising:

• a platform to support the ceramic part to be formed;
• a dispenser to dispense a plurality of successive layers of feed material over the platform, the feed material comprising a curable component and a ceramic component;
• a radiation source to emit a radiation toward a top surface of the platform, the radiation being configured to cure the curable component of the feed material as or after each layer is dispensed to form a cured polymer;
• and
• a microwave source to apply microwaves directed toward the successive layers on the platform;
• a controller coupled to the microwave source having non-transitory computer readable media and/or circuitry that in operation causes the microwave source to generate microwaves that vaporize the cured polymer of the feed material and to cause crystallization of the ceramic component of the feed material to form the ceramic part.