Methods for shaping green bodies and articles made by such methods

摘要

A method of shaping a green body provides a shaped green body comprised of a plurality of sinterable particles and an organic binder. Such a method includes: (1) molding a mixture of sinterable particles and organic binder into the shape of an initial green body or intermediate, wherein the sinterable particles include at least one of metal particles or ceramic particles; and (2) shaping the green body intermediate with at least one of a stream of energy or a stream of matter, wherein the shaping yields a green body having a desired shape. The shaped green body can be sintered in order to provide a hardened body having substantially the shape of the shaped green body.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing an orthodontic bracket comprising:
forming an initial green body by molding a mixture of sinterable particles and organic binder into a desired shape corresponding to at least a portion of an orthodontic bracket, wherein the sinterable particles include at least one of metal particles or ceramic particles; and roughening a surface portion of the initial green body by removing sinterable particles from the initial green body using at least one of a stream of energy or a stream of matter to yield a plurality of macro-protrusions, macro-recesses, and macro-undercuts and that further includes a plurality of micro-protrusions, micro-recesses, or micro-undercuts superimposed on the macro-protrusions, macro-recesses, or macro-undercuts, wherein the macro-protrusions, macro-recesses, or macro-undercuts define an irregular and uneven surface on the initial green body.