Powder Particle Layerwise Three-Dimensional Printing Process

摘要

Three-dimensional printing processes are disclosed which utilize printable fluids comprising a carrier fluid, a polymeric binder, and nanoparticles. The three-dimensional printing processes are useful for making articles from a build material powder, e.g., a ceramic, metal, metal alloy, or intermetallic powder. The nanoparticles enable low temperature interparticle bonding of the build material powder particles, e.g., by forming bridging bonds between adjacent powder particles, and/or increasing the interparticle friction between the build material powder particles to enhance the structural strength of the as-built article during a thermal treatment over at least a part of the temperature range which has as its low end the temperature at which the structural strength due to the binder becomes insubstantial and as its high end the temperature at which the structural strength due to interparticle sintering of the build material powder becomes substantial, i.e., the article's debile temperature range. Green density improvements are achievable.

主权项

1: A method of three-dimensional printing comprising the steps of:
(a) spreading a layer of build material powder particles; (b) selectively printing a first fluid onto the layer of the build material powder particles, the first fluid comprising a first polymeric binder, a first carrier liquid, and a first group of nanoparticles, wherein the first polymeric binder is dissolved in the first carrier liquid; and (c) repeating the steps (a) and (b) for additional layers of the build material powder particles to create a preselected object.