Graphical abstract
The process diagram presents water and terracotta clay powder combined before screw-based material extrusion, M E X, for clay 3 D printing. The printed mould is then filled with iron powder, and a copper ingot is placed on top. The filled mould moves to a sintering furnace, then to an iron-copper alloy cylinder. The final stage is testing and characterisation, with compression testing, pin-on-disc testing, and two microscopic views.