Hydrothermal-assisted transient jet fusion additive manufacturing

An additive manufacturing method, comprising:

• forming a first layer of a first ceramic material with a thickness in the range of 0-500 microns;
• forming a second layer of a second ceramic material with a thickness in the range of 0-500 microns;
• contacting selected regions within the first layer of the first ceramic material, the second layer of the second ceramic material, or both with a saturant, through an inkjet printhead, independently in a range of from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of the first ceramic material and the second ceramic material, wherein the selected regions comprises less than 100% of the first or second layer;
• applying pressure to the first layer of the first ceramic material, the second layer of the second ceramic material, or both, wherein the pressure is in a range of from about 10 kPa to about 800 MPa;
• heating the first layer of the first ceramic material, the second layer of the second ceramic material, or both to a temperature in a range of from about 50° C. to about 300° C.;
• at least partially dissolving a portion of an external surface of a ceramic particle of the first layer of the first ceramic material, the second layer of the second ceramic material, or both, using the saturant;
• fusing a portion of the dissolved portion of the external surface of the ceramic particle as the saturant evaporates to form a product having a density in a range of from about 65% to about 100% relative to corresponding fully densified product.