阅读说明：本技术 用于三维打印的方法和系统 (Method and system for three-dimensional printing ) 是由 勒罗伊·马格伍德 布莱恩·阿齐马 于 2020-02-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开内容提供用于产生三维(3D)物体的方法。该方法可以包括产生与该3D物体对应的生坯件。该生坯件可以包含多个颗粒以及用于进行自蔓延反应的反应物。该反应物可以用于进行自蔓延反应而产生足以将该生坯件脱粘或预烧结的热。可以将外部热供给至该生坯件以烧结多个颗粒,从而产生3D物体。本公开内容还提供用树脂产生3D物体的方法。该方法可以包括用树脂产生生坯件,将该生坯件在第一温度下加热以使生坯件中的粘结剂分解,将该生坯件在第二温度下加热以使生坯件中的聚合材料分解,以及烧结该生坯件而产生3D物体。(The present disclosure provides methods for generating three-dimensional (3D) objects. The method may include generating a green blank corresponding to the 3D object. The green part may comprise a plurality of particles and a reactant for performing a self-propagating reaction. The reactants may be used to perform a self-propagating reaction to generate heat sufficient to debind or pre-sinter the green part. External heat may be supplied to the green part to sinter the plurality of particles, thereby producing the 3D object. The present disclosure also provides methods of producing 3D objects with resins. The method may include creating a green part from a resin, heating the green part at a first temperature to decompose a binder in the green part, heating the green part at a second temperature to decompose a polymeric material in the green part, and sintering the green part to create the 3D object.)

1. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:

(a) generating a green part corresponding to the 3D object, wherein the green part comprises a plurality of particles and a reactant for undergoing a self-propagating reaction in the green part to generate heat;

(b) performing the self-propagating reaction using the reactants to generate the heat in the green part, wherein the heat is sufficient to de-bond or pre-sinter the green part; and

(c) after (b), supplying heat to the green part from a location external to the green part to sinter the plurality of particles, thereby producing the 3D object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles comprises at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat in (b) is sufficient to debind the green part.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat in (b) is sufficient to pre-sinter the green part.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactant comprises an oxidant, a fuel, or a solvent.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the oxidizing agent is nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, a metal nitrate, a nitrate hydrate, a functional variant thereof, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the fuel is urea, glycine, sucrose, glucose, citric acid, carbohydrazide, oxalyl dihydrazide, hexamethylenetetramine, acetylacetone, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the solvent is water, kerosene, benzene, ethanol, methanol, furfuryl alcohol, 2-methoxyethanol, formaldehyde, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof

9. The method of claim 1, wherein in (a), the green part is produced using at least one resin.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one resin comprises a polymerization precursor and a photoinitiator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one resin comprises a photoinhibitor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one resin comprises the plurality of particles or the reactant.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying external energy to the reactants of the green part in (b) to initiate the self-propagating reaction to generate the heat.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the external energy is provided by a light source.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the light source is a laser or an ultraviolet energy source.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the external energy is provided by a thermal energy source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the thermal energy source provides thermal energy by resistive heating.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein in (c) the heat is supplied by a light source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the light source is a laser or an ultraviolet energy source.

20. A green part for forming a three-dimensional object comprising a plurality of particles and reactants for a self-propagating reaction in the green part, thereby generating heat in the green part sufficient to debind or pre-sinter the green part.

21. The green part of claim 20, wherein the plurality of particles comprises at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof.

22. The green article of claim 20, wherein the reactant comprises an oxidant, a fuel, or a solvent.

23. The green blank of claim 22, wherein the oxidizing agent is nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, a metal nitrate, a nitrate hydrate, a functional variant thereof, or a combination thereof.

24. The green part of claim 22, wherein the fuel is urea, glycine, sucrose, glucose, citric acid, carbohydrazide, oxalyl dihydrazide, hexamethylenetetramine, acetylacetone, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof.

25. The green part of claim 22, wherein the solvent is water, kerosene, benzene, ethanol, methanol, furfuryl alcohol, 2-methoxyethanol, formaldehyde, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof.

26. The green part of claim 20, wherein the green part is produced using at least one resin.

27. The green part of claim 26, wherein the at least one resin comprises the plurality of particles and the reactant.

28. The green part of claim 26, wherein the at least one resin comprises a polymeric precursor and a photoinitiator.

29. The green part of claim 26, wherein the at least one resin comprises a photoinhibitor.

30. The green part of claim 20, wherein the self-propagating reaction is initiated with an external energy source configured to supply the external energy to the reactant.

31. The green blank of claim 30, wherein the external energy is provided by a light source.

32. The green blank of claim 31, wherein the light source is a laser or an ultraviolet energy source.

33. The green blank of claim 30, wherein the external energy is provided by a thermal energy source.

34. The green part of claim 33, wherein the thermal energy source provides thermal energy by resistive heating.

35. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:

(a) providing a resin adjacent to a build surface, the resin comprising (i) a binder configured to decompose at a first temperature, (ii) a polymeric precursor configured to form a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is configured to decompose at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, and (iii) a plurality of particles;

(b) using the resin to produce a green part corresponding to the 3D object, wherein the green part comprises the binder, the polymeric material, and the plurality of particles;

(c) heating the green part at the first temperature to decompose at least a portion of the binder and create one or more holes in the green part, the green part comprising the plurality of particles and the polymeric material; and

(d) heating the green part at or above the second temperature after (c) to decompose at least a portion of the polymeric material, thereby producing the 3D object comprising the plurality of particles.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of particles comprises at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said heating in (d) sinters said plurality of particles.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said heating in (c) does not decompose said polymeric material.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein in (c) the heating creates at least one continuous porous network in the green part, the at least one continuous porous network comprising the one or more pores.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein in (a) the resin further comprises at least one photoinitiator configured to initiate formation of the polymeric precursor into the polymeric material.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising exposing the resin adjacent to the build surface to a first light in (b) under conditions sufficient for the at least one photoinitiator to initiate formation of the polymeric material from the polymeric precursor.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein in (a) the resin further comprises at least one photo-inhibitor configured to inhibit formation of the polymeric material from the polymeric precursor.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising exposing the resin adjacent to the build surface to a second light in (b) under conditions sufficient for the at least one photoinhibitor to inhibit formation of the polymeric material adjacent to the build surface.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein in (c) the at least a portion of the binder decomposes into a gas.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the gas comprises carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, or formaldehyde.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein the binder comprises poly (propylene carbonate) or paraformaldehyde.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein the first temperature is about 150 degrees celsius to about 350 degrees celsius.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein the second temperature is greater than or equal to about 400 degrees celsius.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the second temperature is greater than or equal to about 500 degrees Celsius.

50. The method of claim 35, wherein (b) comprises directing light to the resin to form the polymeric material from the polymeric precursor.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the build surface comprises a transparent or translucent window, and wherein the light is directed through the transparent or translucent window.

52. The method of claim 35, wherein the polymeric material is removable through the one or more apertures while the green part is heated at or above the second temperature.

Background

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has rapidly been applied to a variety of different applications, including rapid prototyping and fabrication of specialty parts. Some 3D printing techniques use metal or ceramic particles mixed with organic compounds (e.g., polymers) to create green parts in the shape of 3D objects. These green pieces may be subjected to a de-bonding process to remove organic compounds that hold the metal or ceramic particles in a desired shape and then to a sintering operation to fuse the metal or ceramic particles together to form a 3D object. One method for de-bonding is thermal decomposition during which the green part may be heated in a furnace to evaporate organic components. After debinding the organic compound from the green part, the green part may be heated in a furnace at a temperature sufficient to sinter the particles in the green part.

Disclosure of Invention

Various limitations of the methods currently available for debinding and sintering are recognized herein. For example, thermal decomposition may include lengthy high temperature heating procedures during which the green part may be subjected to high thermal stresses and may be prone to cracking or deformation. As another example, during the sintering process, it may be difficult to control the diffusion of particles or atoms (e.g., because the particles or atoms may move in the green part such that the shape of the three-dimensional (3D) object changes relative to a predetermined or desired shape).

Methods and systems for printing 3D objects are provided herein. In an example, a method for printing a 3D object includes generating a green part comprising particles (e.g., metal particles or ceramic particles) and a bonding substance (e.g., a binder). The self-sustaining exothermic reaction may be used to remove the bonding substance and, in some cases, to at least partially melt the particles through the green part, in some cases without continuous exposure to an external energy source. Such self-propagating reactions may allow for improved control over the rate and temperature at which debonding occurs. The green part may then be heated to subject the particles to conditions sufficient to sinter the particles to produce a 3D object.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) object, the method comprising: (a) generating a green part corresponding to the 3D object, wherein the green part comprises a plurality of particles and a reactant for undergoing a self-propagating reaction in the green part to generate heat; (b) using the reactants to perform the self-propagating reaction to generate heat in the green part, wherein the heat is sufficient to de-bond or pre-sinter the green part; and (c) after (b), supplying heat to the green part from a location external to the green part to sinter the plurality of particles, thereby producing the 3D object.

In some embodiments, the plurality of particles may comprise at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the heat may be sufficient to debind the green part in (b). In some embodiments, the heat in (b) may be sufficient to pre-sinter the green part.

In some embodiments, the reactants may include an oxidant, a fuel, and/or a solvent. In some embodiments, the oxidizing agent may be nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, a metal nitrate, a nitrate hydrate, a functional variant thereof, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fuel may be urea, glycine, sucrose, glucose, citric acid, carbohydrazide, oxalyl dihydrazide, hexamethylenetetramine, acetylacetone, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the solvent may be water, kerosene, benzene, ethanol, methanol, furfuryl alcohol, 2-methoxyethanol, formaldehyde, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the green part in (a) may be produced using at least one resin. In some embodiments, the at least one resin may comprise a polymeric precursor and a photoinitiator. In some embodiments, the at least one resin may comprise a photoinhibitor. In some embodiments, the at least one resin may comprise the plurality of particles or the reactant.

In some embodiments, the method may further include supplying external energy to the reactants of the green part to initiate the self-propagating reaction to generate heat in (b). In some embodiments, the external energy may be provided by a light source. In some embodiments, the light source may be a laser or an ultraviolet energy source. In some embodiments, the external energy may be provided by a thermal energy source. In some embodiments, the thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by resistive heating.

In some embodiments, the heat in (c) may be supplied by a light source. In some embodiments, the light source may be a laser or an ultraviolet energy source.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a green part for forming a three-dimensional (3D) object. The green part may comprise a plurality of particles and a reactant for a self-propagating reaction in the green part, thereby generating heat in the green part sufficient to debind or pre-sinter the green part.

In some embodiments, the plurality of particles may comprise at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the reactant may comprise an oxidant, a fuel, or a solvent.

In some embodiments, the oxidizing agent may be nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, a metal nitrate, a nitrate hydrate, a functional variant thereof, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the fuel may be urea, glycine, sucrose, glucose, citric acid, carbohydrazide, oxalyl dihydrazide, hexamethylenetetramine, acetylacetone, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the solvent may be water, kerosene, benzene, ethanol, methanol, furfuryl alcohol, 2-methoxyethanol, formaldehyde, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the green part may be produced using at least one resin. In some embodiments, the at least one resin may comprise the plurality of particles and the reactant. In some embodiments, the at least one resin may comprise a polymeric precursor and a photoinitiator. In some embodiments, the at least one resin may comprise a photoinhibitor.

In some embodiments, the self-propagating reaction may be initiated with an external energy source configured to supply external energy to the reactant.

In some embodiments, the external energy may be provided by a light source. In some embodiments, the light source may be a laser or an ultraviolet energy source.

In some embodiments, the external energy may be provided by a thermal energy source. In some embodiments, the thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by resistive heating.

In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) object, the method comprising: (a) providing a resin adjacent to a build surface, the resin comprising (i) a binder configured to decompose at a first temperature, (ii) a polymeric precursor configured to form a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is configured to decompose at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and (iii) a plurality of particles; (b) using the resin to produce a green part corresponding to the 3D object, wherein the green part comprises the binder, the polymeric material, and the plurality of particles; (c) heating the green part at the first temperature to decompose at least a portion of the binder and create one or more holes in the green part, the green part comprising the plurality of particles and the polymeric material; and (D) heating the green part at or above the second temperature after (c) to decompose at least a portion of the polymeric material, thereby producing the 3D object comprising the plurality of particles.

In some embodiments, the plurality of particles may comprise at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the heating in (d) may sinter the plurality of particles. In some embodiments, the heating in (c) may not decompose the polymeric material. In some embodiments, the heating in (c) may create at least one continuous porous network in the green part, the at least one continuous porous network comprising one or more pores.

In some embodiments, the polymeric material may be removed through one or more apertures while the green part is heated at or above the second temperature.

In some embodiments, in (a) the resin may further comprise at least one photoinitiator configured to initiate formation of the polymeric precursor into the polymeric material. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise exposing the resin adjacent to the build surface to a first light in (b) under conditions sufficient for the at least one photoinitiator to initiate formation of the polymeric material from the polymeric precursor.

In some embodiments, in (a) the resin may further comprise at least one photo-inhibitor configured to inhibit formation of the polymeric material from the polymeric precursor. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise exposing the resin adjacent to the build surface to a second light in (b) under conditions sufficient for the at least one photoinhibitor to inhibit the formation of the polymeric material adjacent to the build surface.

In some embodiments, the at least a portion of the binder in (c) may decompose into a gas. In some embodiments, the gas may comprise carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, or formaldehyde. In some embodiments, the binder may comprise poly (propylene carbonate) or paraformaldehyde.

In some embodiments, the first temperature may be 150 to 350 degrees celsius. In some embodiments, the second temperature may be greater than or equal to 400 degrees celsius. In some embodiments, the second temperature may be greater than or equal to 500 degrees celsius.

In some embodiments, the method may further comprise directing light to the resin in (b) to form the polymeric material from the polymeric precursor. In some embodiments, the build surface may include a transparent or translucent window. In some embodiments, the light may be directed through the transparent or translucent window.

In some embodiments, the polymeric material may be removed through one or more apertures while the green part is heated at or above the second temperature.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors, performs any of the methods above or elsewhere herein.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a system that includes one or more computer processors and computer memory coupled thereto. The computer memory includes machine executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors, performs any of the methods above or elsewhere herein.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various, readily understood aspects all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

Is incorporated by reference

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. If publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

Drawings

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings (also referred to herein as "figures"), of which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a method of producing a three-dimensional (3D) object using a self-propagating reaction, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a method of producing a three-dimensional (3D) object using one or more thermal decomposition operations, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a computer system programmed or otherwise configured to implement the methods provided herein.

Detailed Description

While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous modifications, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed.

Whenever the term "at least," "greater than," or "greater than or equal to" precedes the first numerical value in a series of two or more numerical values, the term "at least," "greater than," or "greater than or equal to" applies to each numerical value in the series. For example, greater than or equal to 1,2, or 3 is equivalent to greater than or equal to 1, greater than or equal to 2, or greater than or equal to 3.

Whenever the term "no greater than," "less than," or "less than or equal to" precedes the first value in a series of two or more values, the term "no greater than," "less than," or "less than or equal to" applies to each value in the series. For example, less than or equal to 3, 2, or 1 is equivalent to less than or equal to 3, less than or equal to 2, or less than or equal to 1.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) object. The method may include generating a green blank corresponding to the 3D object. The green part may include a plurality of particles and a reactant for performing a self-propagating reaction in the green part to generate heat. The reactants may then be used to perform the self-propagating reaction to generate heat in the green part. This heat may be sufficient to de-bond and/or pre-sinter the green part. Heat may then be supplied to the green part from a location external to the green part to sinter the plurality of particles. This may result in a 3D object.

A green part may be a part that holds a plurality of particles together before they are fused together (e.g., by sintering) to produce a 3D object that contains the plurality of particles. The green part may not be the final 3D object (i.e., may require further processing to produce a 3D object from the green part or a derivative of the green part). The green part may be an intermediate object formed prior to forming the 3D object. The green part may correspond to a 3D object that is printed using any of the 3D printing methods disclosed herein, including Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), fuse fabrication (FFF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Material Jetting (MJ), drop-on-demand, binder jetting, Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), direct photofabrication (DLP), and/or Stereolithography (SLA). The green part may correspond to the shape and/or size (size) of the 3D object, or may correspond to the shape and/or size of a portion of the 3D object. In some cases, the green part may have the same shape and/or measurement (dimension) as the 3D object. In other cases, the green part may have a shape similar to the 3D object and a measurement that is proportional to the measurement of the 3D object. The green part may comprise a polymeric material and a plurality of particles (e.g., metal, ceramic, or both) encapsulated by the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be a polymeric (or polymeric) matrix. The polymeric material may be produced by polymerizing monomers into the polymeric material and/or crosslinking oligomers into the polymeric material, as described in further detail elsewhere herein. The plurality of particles may be encapsulated in a polymeric (or polymeric) matrix. The plurality of particles may be capable of sintering or fusing. The green part may be self-supporting. The green part may be heated in a heater (e.g., in a furnace) to burn off and/or evaporate at least a portion of the polymeric material and coalesce the plurality of particles into a 3D object or into at least a portion of a 3D.

The green part may comprise a plurality of particles. The plurality of particles may comprise at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof. The at least one metal particle may comprise one or more elements selected from the group consisting of aluminum, platinum, calcium, magnesium, barium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, cadmium, actinium, and gold. In some cases, at least one of the metal particles may comprise an intermetallic material. The intermetallic material may be a solid compound (i.e., an alloy) exhibiting metallic bonds, a defined stoichiometry, and an ordered crystal structure. The intermetallic material may be in the form of a prealloyed powder. Examples of such prealloyed powders may include, but are not limited to, brass (copper and zinc), bronze (copper and tin), duralumin (aluminum, copper, manganese, and/or magnesium), gold alloys (gold and copper), rose gold alloys (gold, copper, and zinc), nickel-chromium alloys (nickel and chromium), and/or stainless steel (iron, carbon, and additional elements including manganese, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, boron, titanium, silicon, vanadium, tungsten, cobalt, and/or niobium)). In some cases, the prealloyed powder may include a superalloy. Superalloys may be based on elements including iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, titanium, and/or aluminum.

The at least one ceramic particle may comprise metal (e.g., aluminum, platinum, titanium, etc.), non-metal (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, etc.), and/or metalloid (e.g., germanium, silicon, etc.) atoms that are primarily held in ionic and/or covalent bonds. The metal may be any element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, platinum, calcium, magnesium, barium, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium, niobium, molybdenum, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, cadmium, actinium, and gold. The non-metal may be any element selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine, tennessine, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, and oganisson. The metalloid can be any element selected from the group consisting of arsenic, tellurium, germanium, silicon, antimony, boron, polonium, astatine, and selenium. The at least one ceramic particle may comprise a ceramic material. The ceramic material may be, for example, an aluminum compound, boride, beryllium oxide, carbide, chromium oxide, hydroxide, sulfide, nitride, mullite, kyanite, ferrite, titania zirconia, yttria and/or magnesia.

The plurality of particles may have various shapes and/or sizes. For example, the particles may be spherical, cubic, or discoidal, or any partial shape or combination of shapes thereof. The particles may have a cross-section that is circular, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or any partial cross-section or combination of cross-sections thereof. The particles may have a size corresponding to a cross-sectional measurement of the particle. The cross-sectional dimension of the particles may be from about 1 nanometer (nm) to about 500 micrometers (μm). The cross-sectional measurement of the particle may be at least about 1nm, 2nm, 3nm, 4nm, 5nm, 6nm, 7nm, 8nm, 9nm, 10nm, 20nm, 30nm, 40nm, 50nm, 60nm, 70nm, 80nm, 90nm, 100nm, 200nm, 300nm, 400nm, 500nm, 600nm, 700nm, 800nm, 900nm, 1 μm, 2 μm, 3 μm, 4 μm, 5 μm, 6 μm, 7 μm, 8 μm, 9 μm, 10 μm, 20 μm, 30 μm, 40 μm, 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, 80 μm, 90 μm, 100 μm, 200 μm, 300 μm, 400 μm, 500 μm or more, or a range between any two of the foregoing values (e.g., a cross-sectional measurement of about 1nm to 100 nm). The cross-sectional measurement of the particle may be up to about 500 μm, 400 μm, 300 μm, 200 μm, 100 μm, 90 μm, 80 μm, 70 μm, 60 μm, 50 μm, 40 μm, 30 μm, 20 μm, 10 μm, 9 μm, 8 μm, 7 μm, 6 μm, 5 μm, 4 μm, 3 μm, 2 μm, 1 μm, 900nm, 800nm, 700nm, 600nm, 500nm, 400nm, 300nm, 200nm, 100nm, 90nm, 80nm, 70nm, 60nm, 50nm, 40nm, 30nm, 20nm, 10nm, 9nm, 8nm, 7nm, 6nm, 5nm, 4nm, 3nm, 2nm, 1nm, or less, or a range between any two of the foregoing values (e.g., about a cross-sectional measurement of 1nm to 100 nm).

The green part may comprise a polymeric material. The polymeric material may be a polymeric (or polymeric) matrix. The polymeric material may be produced by polymerizing monomers into the polymeric material and/or crosslinking oligomers into the polymeric material, as described in further detail elsewhere herein. In some cases, the polymeric material may encapsulate a plurality of particles in the green part.

The green part may comprise a binder. The binder may be any compound or resin that retains or partially retains the green part including the plurality of particles in a shape corresponding to the 3D object or a portion of the 3D object.

The green blank may be produced using one or more 3D printing methods. The 3D printing method may include Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), fuse fabrication (FFF), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Material Jetting (MJ), drop-on-demand jetting, binder jetting, Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), or Electron Beam Melting (EBM). In some cases, the green part may be produced using direct photofabrication (DLP) or Stereolithography (SLA).

The green part may contain a plurality of reactants. Table 1 below shows one or more components of a plurality of reactants for performing a self-propagating reaction in a green part to generate heat. The various reactants may comprise, for example, an oxidant, a fuel, and/or a solvent. The oxidant may be ammonium Nitrate (NH)₄NO₃) Nitric acid (HNO)₃) Metal nitrate, nitrate hydrate, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof. The metal nitrate may comprise a nitrate ion and a metal. The nitrate hydrate may comprise nitrate ions and one or more water molecules. The fuel may be urea (CH)₄N₂O), glycine (C)₂H₅NO₂) Sucrose (C)₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) Glucose, citric acid, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the fuel can be a hydrazine-based fuel (e.g., carbohydrazide, oxalyl dihydrazide, hexamethylenetetramine, acetylacetone, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof). The solvent may be water, a hydrocarbon (e.g. kerosene or benzene) and/or an alcohol (e.g. ethanol, methanol)Alcohol, furfuryl alcohol, 2-methoxyethanol, or formaldehyde).

TABLE 1

The reactants may be used to perform a self-propagating reaction. The self-propagating reaction may generate heat within the green part. The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction may be used to de-bond and/or pre-sinter the green part. Debinding may include, for example, using heat to vaporize the polymeric material or at least a portion of the polymeric material encapsulating the plurality of particles in the green part. In some cases, de-bonding may include using heat to dissolve or evaporate at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part. Dissolving may include utilizing heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part in liquid form. The evaporation may include the use of heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part in the form of a gas or vapor. Debinding the green part by dissolving or evaporating at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder in the green part may create one or more pores in at least a portion of the green part. The one or more pores may create a continuous porous network in at least a portion of the green part. In other cases, de-bonding may include using heat to decompose the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part. Decomposing the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part may include utilizing heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder from the green part in a gaseous, liquid, or vapor form. In some cases, decomposing the polymeric material and/or binder may include removing at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder through one or more apertures in the green part. Decomposing and/or de-binding the polymeric material and/or the binder may include removing at least a portion of the green part not containing the plurality of particles with heat.

The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction may be used to pre-sinter the green part. Pre-sintering may include using heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part. Pre-sintering may include using heat to partially remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part through one or more holes in the green part. The pre-sintering may include using heat to partially fuse one or more of the plurality of particles together in the green part at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles. Alternatively, pre-sintering may include the use of heat to partially close one or more pores or porous networks created in the green part during debinding. The pre-sintering may occur at a pre-sintering temperature. The pre-sintering temperature may be less than the sintering temperature. The sintering temperature may be a temperature at which one or more of the plurality of particles in the green part may fuse together at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles in the green part. The sintering temperature may be less than one or more melting temperatures of one or more of the plurality of particles in the green part.

The self-propagating reaction may include one or more oxidation (e.g., combustion) reactions that generate heat sufficient to propagate one or more oxidation reactions from at least a first portion of the green part to at least a second portion of the green part, such as by initiating one or more oxidation reactions from at least the first portion to at least the second portion or further away. The one or more oxidation reactions may include one or more combustion reactions. At least a first portion of the green blank may have one or more common boundaries with at least a second portion of the green blank. The oxidation reaction may be a reaction between an oxidant or oxidants and a plurality of reactants. The oxidizing agent may be a substance that removes one or more electrons from the reactant during the chemical reaction. The oxidant may be oxygen, ozone, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, hypochlorite, chlorate, nitric acid, sulfur dioxide, chromate, manganate, permanganate, tetraoxide, peroxide, or thallium. One or more oxidation reactions may generate heat within the green part. The self-propagating reaction may generate heat within the green part through one or more oxidation reactions. Once initiated, the self-propagating reaction can proceed without energy input into the green part from an external energy source.

The self-propagating reaction may propagate from at least a first portion of the green part to at least a second portion of the green part by the combustion wave. The burn wave may be a moving or fixed boundary region between one or more portions of the green part. The first portion of the green blank may be located on a first side of the burn wave. The second portion of the green blank may be located on a second side of the burn wave. The heat that may be generated by the plurality of reactants in the first portion of the green blank is sufficient to cause one or more oxidation reactions to occur in at least the second portion of the blank or further away. The heat generated by the one or more oxidation reactions in the first portion of the green blank may be sufficient to induce the one or more oxidation reactions in at least the second portion of the blank. The heat generated by the one or more oxidation reactions may be sufficient to de-bond or pre-sinter the green part.

In some cases, the self-propagating reaction may include a solution combustion process. The solution combustion process may include exposing the plurality of reactants to an external energy source (e.g., a light source or a thermal energy source) to activate (e.g., boil off) the solvent. In some cases, the solvent may boil off and leave material containing the oxidant and/or fuel. The material may be solid, semi-solid, crystalline and/or semi-crystalline. In some cases, such materials may be reduced in a reduction process (e.g., a reduction reaction). The reduction reaction may include the loss of an oxygen atom and/or the gain of one or more electrons by one or more components of the material (e.g., oxidant and/or fuel). The reduction process may generate or dissipate heat. In some cases, the heat generated or dissipated may initiate the burning and/or combustion of one or more fuels present in the reactants. In some cases, the reactants may comprise one or more oxygen donor materials (e.g., an oxidant). One or more oxygen supplying substances may provide oxygen to the fuel to allow the fuel to burn and/or initiate a self-propagating reaction. The amount of heat generated and/or dissipated by the reduction reaction and/or the self-propagating reaction may be related in part to the ratio of fuel to oxidant and/or the amount of oxidant present. As the self-propagating reaction proceeds, the plurality of particles in the green part may melt or partially melt. Alternatively, as the self-propagating reaction proceeds, portions of the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part may decompose and/or be removed from the green part.

The self-propagating reaction may have a temperature of oxidation (e.g., a temperature of combustion). The temperature of the oxidation may be approximately equal to the temperature at which one or more oxidation reactions occur. The temperature of the oxidation may be between about 300 degrees celsius and about 2200 degrees celsius. The temperature of the oxidizing can be at least about 300 degrees celsius, 350 degrees celsius, 400 degrees celsius, 450 degrees celsius, 500 degrees celsius, 550 degrees celsius, 600 degrees celsius, 650 degrees celsius, 700 degrees celsius, 750 degrees celsius, 800 degrees celsius, 850 degrees celsius, 900 degrees celsius, 950 degrees celsius, 1000 degrees celsius, 1050 degrees celsius, 1100 degrees celsius, 1150 degrees celsius, 1200 degrees celsius, 1250 degrees celsius, 1300 degrees celsius, 1350 degrees celsius, 1400 degrees celsius, 1450 degrees celsius, 1500 degrees celsius, 1550 degrees celsius, 1600 degrees celsius, 1700 degrees celsius, 1800 degrees celsius, 1900 degrees celsius, 2000 degrees celsius, 2100 degrees celsius, 2200 degrees celsius, or more. The temperature of the oxidizing may be at most about 2200, 2100, 2000, 1900, 1800, 1700, 1600, 1550, 1500, 1450, 1400, 1350, 1300, 1250, 1200, 1150, 1100, 1050, 1000, 950, 900, 850, 800, 750, 700, 650, 600, 550, 500, 450, 400, 350, 300 degrees celsius, or less.

The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction may be sufficient to de-bond and/or pre-sinter at least a portion of the green part. In some cases, de-bonding may include using heat to dissolve or evaporate at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part. The heat from the one or more oxidation reactions may bond the green part by dissolving or evaporating at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder from the green part. Dissolving may include utilizing heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part in liquid form. The evaporation may include the use of heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part in the form of a gas or vapor. Debinding the green part by dissolving or evaporating at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder in the green part may create one or more pores in at least a portion of the green part. The one or more pores may create a continuous porous network in at least a portion of the green part. In other cases, de-bonding may include decomposing the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part using heat generated from one or more oxidation reactions. Decomposing the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part may include utilizing heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder from the green part in a gaseous, liquid, or vapor form. In some cases, decomposing the polymeric material and/or binder may include removing at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder through one or more apertures in the green part. The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction and/or the one or more oxidation reactions may be sufficient to de-bond the green part by removing at least a portion of the green part that does not include the plurality of particles.

The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction may be sufficient to pre-sinter at least a portion of the green part. Pre-sintering may include removing at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part, for example, using heat. Pre-sintering may include using heat to partially remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part through one or more holes in the green part. The pre-sintering may include using heat to partially fuse one or more of the plurality of particles together in the green part at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles. Alternatively, pre-sintering may include the use of heat to partially close one or more pores or porous networks created in the green part during debinding. Pre-sintering may include utilizing heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part. Pre-sintering may include utilizing heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions to partially remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part through one or more holes in the green part. In some cases, the pre-sintering may include utilizing heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions to partially fuse one or more of the plurality of particles together in the green part at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles. In other cases, pre-sintering may include utilizing heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions to partially close one or more pores or porous networks created in the green part during debinding. The pre-sintering may occur at a pre-sintering temperature. The pre-sintering temperature may be less than the sintering temperature. The sintering temperature may be a temperature at which one or more of the plurality of particles in the green part may fuse together at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles in the green part. The sintering temperature may be less than a melting temperature of one or more of the plurality of particles in the green part.

The self-propagating reaction may be initiated by supplying an energy source to the reactants. The energy source can provide sufficient energy to the reactants to perform one or more oxidation reactions. The energy source may be an external energy source. The external energy source may be a light source. Examples of light sources may include lamps (e.g., incandescent, halogen, carbon arc, or discharge lamps), flashlights, lasers, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), superluminescent diodes (SLDs), gas filled tubes such as fluorescent lamps, or any other device capable of generating a stream of photons. The light source may emit electromagnetic waves having a wavelength of about 200nm to about 700 nm. The light source may comprise an ultraviolet light source. The external energy may be a convective or resistive energy source, such as a source of hot fluid (e.g., hot air) or a resistive heater.

The external energy source for initiating the self-propagating reaction may be a thermal energy source. Examples of thermal energy sources may include lamps (e.g., incandescent, halogen, carbon arc, or discharge lamps), flashlights, lasers, heaters, furnaces, or open flames. The furnace may be a closed chamber with thermal energy supplied by fuel combustion, electricity, conduction, convection, induction, radiation, or any combination thereof. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by resistive heating. Resistive heating may include heating by passing an electric current through the material. The material may be a conductive material having electrical resistivity that may impede movement of electrons through the material or cause electrons to collide with each other to generate heat. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by induction heating. Induction heating may include the use of electromagnetic induction to generate an electrical current within an electrically conductive material. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by dielectric heating. Dielectric heating may include rotating molecules within a material using radio wave or microwave electromagnetic radiation. The thermal energy source may be a process chamber. The temperature of the process chamber can be regulated using any one or more of the thermal energy sources disclosed herein. The treatment chamber may be an oven or a furnace. The oven or furnace may be heated by various heating methods such as resistive heating, convective heating, and/or radiant heating. The furnace may be, for example, an induction furnace, an electric arc furnace, a gas furnace, a plasma arc furnace, a microwave furnace, and a resistance furnace. Such heating may be employed at a fixed or variable heating rate from an initial temperature to a target temperature or temperature range. The self-propagating reaction, once initiated, may continue to completion without continuous exposure to an external energy source.

The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction, including one or more oxidation reactions, may be sufficient to debond the green part. For example, the heat generated by the one or more oxidation reactions may be sufficient to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part. The heat generated by the one or more oxidation reactions may remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part by dissolving or evaporating at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder. Dissolving may include utilizing heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part in liquid form. The evaporation may include the use of heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part in the form of a gas or vapor. The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction and/or the one or more oxidation reactions may be sufficient to remove at least a portion of the green part that does not include the plurality of particles. Debonding by dissolution or evaporation may create one or more pores in portions of the green part. The one or more pores may create a continuous porous network in the portion of the green part. In some cases, debonding may include partially removing at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or the bonding agent through one or more apertures in the green part.

The heat generated by the self-propagating reaction, including one or more oxidation reactions, may be sufficient to pre-sinter the green part. Pre-sintering may include removing at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder in the green part, for example, using heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions. Pre-sintering may include utilizing heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions to partially remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder from the green part through one or more holes in the green part. In some cases, the pre-sintering may include utilizing heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions to partially fuse one or more of the plurality of particles together in the green part at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles. In other cases, pre-sintering may include utilizing heat generated by one or more oxidation reactions to partially close one or more pores or porous networks created in the green part during debinding.

After the green part is debinded and/or pre-sintered, heat may be supplied to the green part from a location external to the green part to sinter the plurality of particles within the green part to create the 3D object. Sintering may include using heat to fuse one or more of the plurality of particles together in the green part at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles. In some cases, sintering may include utilizing heat to close one or more pores or porous networks created in the green part during debinding. In other cases, sintering may include using heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material or binder remaining in the green part after debinding and/or pre-sintering. The heat for sintering may be supplied by a light source. Examples of light sources may include lamps, flashlights, lasers, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), superluminescent diodes (SLDs), gas filled tubes such as fluorescent lamps, or any other device capable of generating a stream of photons. The light source may emit electromagnetic waves having a wavelength of about 200nm to about 700 nm. The light source may comprise an ultraviolet light source. The light source for sintering may be located outside the green part.

Alternatively, the heat for sintering may be supplied by a thermal energy source. Examples of thermal energy sources may include lamps, flashlights, lasers, heaters, furnaces, or open flames. The furnace may be a closed chamber with thermal energy supplied by fuel combustion, electricity, conduction, convection, induction, radiation, or any combination thereof. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by resistive heating. Resistive heating may include heating by passing an electric current through the material. The material may be a conductive material having electrical resistivity that may impede movement of electrons through the material or cause electrons to collide with each other to generate heat. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by induction heating. Induction heating may include the use of electromagnetic induction to generate an electrical current within an electrically conductive material. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by dielectric heating. Dielectric heating may include rotating molecules within a material using radio wave or microwave electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, the thermal energy source may be a process chamber. The temperature of the process chamber can be regulated using any of the thermal energy sources disclosed herein. The treatment chamber may be an oven or a furnace. The oven or furnace may be heated by various heating methods such as resistive heating, convective heating, and/or radiant heating. Examples of furnaces include induction furnaces, electric arc furnaces, gas furnaces, plasma arc furnaces, microwave furnaces, and resistance furnaces. Such heating may be employed at a fixed or varying heating rate from an initial temperature to a target temperature or temperature range. The source of thermal energy for sintering may be external to the green part.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a method of generating a three-dimensional (3D) object. As shown in fig. 1, in a first operation 101, a 3D object may be created by first creating a green part corresponding to the 3D object. The green part may comprise a plurality of particles and reactants for performing a self-propagating reaction in the green part to generate heat. Next, in a second operation 102, the reactants may be used to perform a self-propagating reaction to generate heat in the green part. The heat may be sufficient to de-bond or pre-sinter the green part. Then, in a third operation 103, heat may be supplied to the green part from a location external to the green part to sinter the plurality of particles in the green part to produce the 3D object.

The green part may be produced using at least one viscous liquid. The viscous liquid may be a resin. The resin may be a viscous liquid that may be used to print 3D objects. The resin may be dispensed from the nozzle and over the printing window. The resin may have a viscosity sufficient to be self-supporting without flowing or to flow sufficiently. The viscosity of the resin may range from about 4,000 centipoise (cP) to about 2,000,000 cP. The resin may be pressed into a resin film on or over the printing window, for example by a blade or a head (build head). The thickness of the resin film may be adjustable.

The resin may comprise a photosensitive resin. The photosensitive resin may include a polymerization precursor and a photoinitiator. The polymeric precursor may be a polymerizable and/or crosslinkable component such as a monomer. The photoinitiator may be a compound that activates the curing of the polymerizable and/or crosslinkable component, thereby polymerizing and/or crosslinking the polymerizable and/or crosslinkable component. Polymerization may be a process in which monomers are reacted together to form one or more polymer chains. The polymerization may include step polymerization, chain polymerization, or photopolymerization. Step-wise polymerization may involve reaction between monomers having one or more functional groups to form polymer chains. Chain polymerization may involve a reaction between one or more monomers and an initiator to add a monomer molecule to one or more active sites of the polymer chain. The initiator may be a compound that reacts with the monomer to form an intermediate compound. The intermediate compound may be capable of linking one or more monomers into a polymer chain. The photopolymerization may be chain polymerization initiated by absorption of visible or ultraviolet light. Crosslinking may be the process of linking two or more polymer chains together by forming covalent bonds between the two or more polymer chains using a chemical reaction.

The photosensitive resin may contain a photoinhibitor that inhibits curing of the polymerizable and/or crosslinkable components. In some examples, the resin may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., metallic, non-metallic, or both) -in which case the resin may be a paste or photopolymer paste. The resin may be a paste. A plurality of particles may be added to the resin. The plurality of particles may be solid or semi-solid (e.g., gel). Examples of non-metallic materials include ceramics, polymeric materials, or composite materials. A plurality of particles may be suspended throughout the resin. The plurality of particles in the resin may have a monodisperse or polydisperse distribution. In some examples, the resin may include additional light absorbers and/or non-photoreactive components (e.g., fillers, binders, plasticizers, etc.). The 3D printing methods disclosed herein can be performed with at least 1,2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more resins. Multiple resins containing different materials (e.g., different photosensitive resins and/or different pluralities of particles) may be used to print a multi-material 3D object.

The resin may be used to print at least a portion of the 3D object. The resin may comprise a photosensitive resin to form a polymeric material. The photosensitive resin may comprise a polymeric precursor of a polymeric material. The photosensitive resin may include at least one photoinitiator configured to initiate formation of a polymeric material from a polymeric precursor. The photosensitive resin may include at least one photoinhibitor configured to inhibit formation of polymeric material from the polymeric precursor. The photosensitive resin may include a plurality of particles for forming at least a portion of the 3D object.

The photosensitive resin may have viscosity. The viscosity of the photosensitive resin may be between about 4,000cP to about 2,000,000 cP. The photosensitive resin may have a viscosity of at least about 4,000cP, 10,000cP, 20,000cP, 30,000cP, 40,000cP, 50,000cP, 60,000cP, 70,000cP, 80,000cP, 90,000cP, 100,000cP, 200,000cP, 300,000cP, 400,000cP, 500,000cP, 600,000cP, 700,000cP, 800,000cP, 900,000cP, 1,000,000cP, 2,000,000cP, or more. The viscosity of the photosensitive resin may be at most about 2,000,000cP, 1,000,000cP, 900,000cP, 800,000cP, 700,000cP, 600,000cP, 500,000cP, 400,000cP, 300,000cP, 200,000cP, 100,000cP, 90,000cP, 80,000cP, 70,000cP, 60,000cP, 50,000cP, 40,000cP, 30,000cP, 20,000cP, 10,000cP, 4,000cP, or less.

The photosensitive resin may be a non-newtonian fluid. The viscosity of the photosensitive resin may vary based on the shear rate or shear history of the photosensitive resin. Alternatively, the photosensitive resin may be a newtonian fluid.

The resin may include a photosensitive resin and a plurality of particles. The viscosity of the resin may range from about 4,000cP to about 2,000,000 cP. The viscosity of the resin can be at least about 4,000cP, 10,000cP, 20,000cP, 30,000cP, 40,000cP, 50,000cP, 60,000cP, 70,000cP, 80,000cP, 90,000cP, 100,000cP, 200,000cP, 300,000cP, 400,000cP, 500,000cP, 600,000cP, 700,000cP, 800,000cP, 900,000cP, 1,000,000cP, 2,000,000cP, or greater. The viscosity of the resin can be at most about 2,000,000cP, 1,000,000cP, 900,000cP, 800,000cP, 700,000cP, 600,000cP, 500,000cP, 400,000cP, 300,000cP, 200,000cP, 100,000cP, 90,000cP, 80,000cP, 70,000cP, 60,000cP, 50,000cP, 40,000cP, 30,000cP, 20,000cP, 10,000cP, 4,000cP, or less.

In the resin including the photosensitive resin and the plurality of particles, the photosensitive resin may be present in the resin in an amount between about 5 volume percent (vol%) to about 80 vol%. The photosensitive resin can be present in the resin in an amount of at least about 5 vol%, 6 vol%, 7 vol%, 8 vol%, 9 vol%, 10 vol%, 11 vol%, 12 vol%, 13 vol%, 14 vol%, 15 vol%, 16 vol%, 17 vol%, 18 vol%, 19 vol%, 20 vol%, 21 vol%, 22 vol%, 23 vol%, 24 vol%, 25 vol%, 30 vol%, 35 vol%, 40 vol%, 45 vol%, 50 vol%, 55 vol%, 60 vol%, 65 vol%, 70 vol%, 75 vol%, 80 vol%, or more. The photosensitive resin may be present in the resin in an amount up to about 80 vol%, 75 vol%, 70 vol%, 65 vol%, 60 ol%, 55 vol%, 50 vol%, 45 vol%, 40 vol%, 35 vol%, 30 vol%, 25 vol%, 24 vol%, 23 vol%, 22 vol%, 21 vol%, 20 vol%, 19 vol%, 18 vol%, 17 vol%, 16 vol%, 15 vol%, 14 vol%, 13 vol%, 12 vol%, 11 vol%, 10 vol%, 9 vol%, 8 vol%, 7 vol%, 6 vol%, 5 vol% or less.

The polymeric precursor in the photosensitive resin may include monomers to be polymerized into a polymeric material, oligomers to be crosslinked into a polymeric material, or both. The monomers may be of the same or different types. The oligomer may comprise two or more monomers covalently linked to each other. Oligomers may be any length, such as at least 2 (dimers), 3 (trimers), 4 (tetramers), 5 (pentamers), 6 (hexamers), 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 or more monomers. Alternatively or additionally, the polymeric precursor may comprise a dendritic precursor (monodisperse or polydisperse). The dendritic precursor may be a first generation (G1), a second generation (G2), a third generation (G3), a fourth generation (G4), or higher, in which the functional group remains on the surface of the dendritic precursor. The resulting polymeric material may include a homopolymer and/or a copolymer. The copolymer may be a linear copolymer or a branched copolymer. The copolymers may be alternating copolymers, periodic copolymers, statistical copolymers, random copolymers, and/or block copolymers.

Examples of the monomer include hydroxyethyl methacrylate; n-lauryl acrylate; tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate; 2,2, 2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate; isobornyl methacrylate; polypropylene glycol monomethacrylate, aliphatic urethane acrylate (i.e., Rahn genome 1122); hydroxyethyl acrylate; n-lauryl methacrylate; tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate; 2,2, 2-trifluoroethyl acrylate; isobornyl acrylate; polypropylene glycol monoacrylate; trimethylpropane triacrylate; trimethylpropane trimethacrylate; pentaerythritol tetraacrylate; pentaerythritol tetraacrylate; triethylene glycol diacrylate; triethylene glycol dimethacrylate; tetraethyleneglycol diacrylate; tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate; neopentyl dimethacrylate; neopentyl acrylate; hexanediol dimethacrylate; hexanediol diacrylate; polyethylene glycol (400) dimethacrylate; polyethylene glycol (400) diacrylate; diethylene glycol diacrylate; diethylene glycol dimethacrylate; ethylene glycol diacrylate; ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; ethoxylated bisphenol a dimethacrylate; ethoxylated bisphenol a diacrylate; bisphenol a glycidyl methacrylate; bisphenol a glycidyl acrylate; ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate; and ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate.

The polymeric precursor may be present in the photosensitive resin of the viscous liquid in an amount between about 3 weight percent (wt%) to about 90 wt%. The polymeric precursor can be present in the photosensitive resin of the viscous liquid in an amount of at least about 3 wt%, 4 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, 30 wt%, 35 wt%, 40 wt%, 45 wt%, 50 wt%, 55 wt%, 60 wt%, 65 wt%, 70 wt%, 75 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt%, 90 wt%, or more. The polymeric precursor may be present in the photosensitive resin of the viscous liquid in an amount of up to about 90 wt%, 85 wt%, 80 wt%, 75 wt%, 70 wt%, 65 wt%, 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, 30 wt%, 25 wt%, 20 wt%, 15 wt%, 10 wt%, 5 wt%, 4 wt%, 3 wt% or less.

The photopolymerization of the polymeric precursor into a polymeric material can be controlled by one or more photosensitive substances such as at least one photoinitiator and at least one photoinhibitor. The at least one photoinitiator may be configured to initiate formation of a polymeric material from the polymeric precursor. For example, the at least one photoinitiator may be a photon-absorbing compound that (i) is activated by a first light comprising a first wavelength and (ii) initiates photopolymerization of the polymeric precursor. The at least one photo-inhibitor may be configured to inhibit formation of a polymeric material from the polymeric precursor. For example, the at least one photo-inhibitor may be another photon-absorbing compound that (i) is activated by a second light comprising a second wavelength and (ii) inhibits photo-polymerization of the polymeric precursor. The first wavelength and the second wavelength may be different. The first light and the second light may be guided by the same light source. Alternatively, the first light may be directed by a first light source and the second light may be directed by a second light source. In some cases, the first light may include a wavelength of about 420 nanometers (nm) to about 510 nm. The second light may include a wavelength of about 350nm to about 410 nm. In an example, the first wavelength that induces photoinitiation may be about 460 nm. The second wavelength inducing light suppression may be about 365 nm.

The relative rates of photoinitiation by the at least one photoinitiator and photoinhibition by the at least one photoinhibitor may be controlled by adjusting the intensity and/or duration of the first light, the second light, or both. By controlling the relative rates of photoinitiation and photoinhibition, the overall rate and/or amount (degree) of polymerization of the polymeric precursors into the polymeric material can be controlled. Such a process may be used to (i) prevent polymerization of the polymeric precursor at the interface between the printing window and the resin, (ii) control the rate at which polymerization occurs in a direction away from the printing window, and/or (iii) control the thickness of the polymeric material within the film of viscous liquid and/or resin.

The photoinitiator may be a photon-absorbing compound that (i) is activated by a first light comprising a first wavelength and (ii) initiates photopolymerization of the polymeric precursor. Examples of photoinitiators include benzophenone, thioxanthone, anthraquinone, benzeneOne or more of a formyl formate ester, a hydroxyacetophenone, an alkylaminoacetophenone, a benzil ketal, a dialkoxyacetophenone, a benzoin ether, a phosphine oxide acyloxime ester, an alpha haloacetophenone, a trichloromethyl-S-triazine, a titanocene, a dibenzylidene ketone, a ketocoumarin, a dye-sensitized photoinitiating system, a maleimide, and mixtures thereof. Examples of photoinitiators in photosensitive resins include 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone (Irgacure)^TM184, a first electrode; BASF, Hawthorne, NJ); 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone and benzophenone (Irgacure)^TM500, a step of; BASF) 1:1 mixture; 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanone (Darocur)^TM1173; BASF); 2-hydroxy-1- [4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) phenyl]-2-methyl-1-propanone (Irgacure)^TM2959; BASF); benzoylcarboxylic acid methyl ester (Darocur)^TMMBF; BASF); oxy-phenyl-acetic acid 2- [ 2-oxo-2-phenyl-acetoxy-ethoxy]-ethyl ester; oxy-phenyl-acetic acid 2- [ 2-hydroxy-ethoxy]-ethyl ester; oxy-phenyl-acetic acid 2- [ 2-oxo-2-phenyl-acetoxy-ethoxy]-ethyl ester and oxy-phenyl-acetic acid 2- [ 2-hydroxy-ethoxy]Mixtures of ethyl esters (Irgacure)^TM754; BASF); alpha, alpha-dimethoxy-alpha-phenylacetophenone (Irgacure)^TM651, respectively; BASF); 2-benzyl-2- (dimethylamino) -1- [4- (4-morpholinyl) -phenyl]-1-butanone (Irgacure)^TM369; BASF); 2-methyl-1- [4- (methylthio) phenyl]-2- (4-morpholinyl) -1-propanone (Irgacure)^TM907; BASF); 2-benzyl-2- (dimethylamino) -1- [4- (4-morpholinyl) phenyl]3:7 mixture of-1-butanone and alpha, alpha-dimethoxy-alpha-phenylacetophenone (Irgacure)^TM1300, respectively; BASF); diphenyl- (2,4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide (Darocur)^TMTPO; BASF); 1:1 mixture of diphenyl- (2,4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phosphine oxide and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanone (Darocur)^TM4265; BASF); phenylbis (2,4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide in pure form (Irgacure)^TM819; BASF, Hawthorne, NJ) used or dispersed in water (45% active, Irgacure)^TM819 DW; BASF); 2:8 mixture of phenylbis (2,4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanone (Irgacure)^TM2022；BASF)；Irgacure^TM2100 comprising phenyl bis (2,4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phosphine oxide); bis- (. eta.5-2, 4-cyclopentadien-1-yl) -bis- [2, 6-difluoro-3- (1H-pyrrol-1-yl) phenyl]Titanium (Irgacure)^TM784; BASF); (4-methylphenyl) [4- (2-methylpropyl) phenyl group]Iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Irgacure)^TM250 of (a); BASF); 2- (4-methylbenzyl) -2 (dimethylamino) -1- (4-morpholinylphenyl) -butan-1-one (Irgacure)^TM379; BASF); 4- (2-Hydroxyethoxy) phenyl- (2-hydroxy-2-propyl) ketone (Irgacure)^TM2959; BASF); bis- (2, 6-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4, 4-trimethylpentylphosphine oxide; mixture of bis- (2, 6-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4, 4-trimethylpentylphosphine oxide and 2 hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propanone (Irgacure)^TM1700; BASF); 4-isopropyl-9-thioxanthone; and mixtures thereof.

The at least one photoinitiator may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount between about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%. The at least one photoinitiator may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount of at least about 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, 5 wt%, 6 wt%, 7 wt%, 8 wt%, 9 wt%, 10 wt%, or more. The at least one photoinitiator may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount up to about 10 wt%, 9 wt%, 8 wt%, 7 wt%, 6 wt%, 5 wt%, 4 wt%, 3 wt%, 2 wt%, 1 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.1 wt%, or less.

The at least one photo-inhibitor may be another photon-absorbing compound that (i) is activated by a second light comprising a second wavelength and (ii) inhibits photo-polymerization of the polymeric precursor. The at least one photoinhibitor in the photosensitive resin may include one or more free radicals that may preferentially terminate growing polymer radicals rather than initiate polymerization of the polymeric precursor. Examples of the type of the at least one photoinitiator include: one or more of thioalkylthiocarbonyl and other free radicals generated in the polymerization of the photoinitiated transfer terminator; thioalkylthiocarbonyl radicals used in reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization; and nitrosyl radicals used in nitroxide-mediated polymerization. Other non-radical species that can be generated to terminate a growing radical chain may include various metal/ligand complexes used as deactivators in Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP). Thus, additional examples of types of at least one photoinhibitor include: one or more of thiocarbamates, xanthates, dithiobenzoates, hexaarylbisimidazoles, photoinitiators that generate ketone groups and other free radicals that tend to terminate growing polymer chain free radicals (i.e., Camphorquinone (CQ) and benzophenone), ATRP deactivators, and polymeric forms thereof.

Examples of the at least one photoinhibitor in the photosensitive resin include zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate; zinc diethyldithiocarbamate; zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate; nickel dibutyldithiocarbamate; zinc dibenzyl dithiocarbamate; tetramethylthiuram disulfide; tetraethylthiuram disulfide (TEDS); tetramethylthiuram monosulfide; tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide; tetraisobutylthiuram disulfide; dipentamethylenethiuram hexasulfide; n, N-dimethyl N, N' -bis (4-pyridyl) thiuram disulfide; 3-butenyl 2- (laurylthiothiocarbonylthio) -2-propanoic acid methyl ester; 4-cyano-4- [ (laurylsulfanylthiocarbonyl) sulfanyl ] pentanoic acid; 4-cyano-4- [ (laurylsulfanylthiocarbonyl) sulfanyl ] pentanol; cyanomethyl lauryl trithiocarbonate; cyanomethyl [3- (trimethoxysilyl) propyl ] trithiocarbonate; 2-cyano-2-propyl lauryl trithiocarbonate; s, S-dibenzyltrithiocarbonate; 2- (laurylthiothiocarbonylthio) -2-methylpropanoic acid; 2- (laurylthiothiocarbonylthio) -2-methylpropanoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide; benzyl 1H-pyrrole-1-dithiocarbonate; cyanomethyl diphenylaminodithioformate; cyanomethyl methyl (phenyl) aminodithioformate; methyl (4-pyridyl) aminodithioformate cyanomethyl ester; 2-cyanopropan-2-yl N-methyl-N- (pyridin-4-yl) aminodithioformate; 2- [ methyl (4-pyridyl) dithiocarbonate ] propanoic acid methyl ester; 1-succinimide-4-cyano-4- [ N-methyl-N- (4-pyridyl) dithiocarbonate ] pentanoate; benzyl dithiobenzoate; cyanomethyl dithiobenzoate; 4-cyano-4- (phenylthiocarbonylthio) pentanoic acid; 4-cyano-4- (phenylthiocarbonylthio) pentanoic acid N-succinimidyl ester; 2-cyano-2-propylbenzene disulfate; 2-cyano-2-propyl-4-cyanophenyldithiocyanate; ethyl 2- (4-methoxyphenylthiocarbonylthio) acetate; 2-phenyl-2-propylbenzene disulfate; methyl (4-pyridyl) aminodithioformate cyanomethyl ester; 2-cyanopropan-2-yl N-methyl-N- (pyridin-4-yl) aminodithioformate; 2,2 '-bis (2-chlorophenyl) -4, 4', 5,5 '-tetraphenyl-1, 2' -biimidazole; 2- (2-ethoxyphenyl) -1- [2- (2-ethoxyphenyl) -4, 5-diphenyl-2H-imidazol-2-yl ] -4, 5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole; 2,2 ', 4-tris- (2-chlorophenyl) -5- (3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl) -4', 5 '-diphenyl-1, 1' -biimidazole; and methyl 2- [ methyl (4-pyridyl) dithiocarbonate ] propionate.

The at least one photoinhibitor may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount between about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%. The at least one photoinhibitor may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount of at least about 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, 5 wt%, 6 wt%, 7 wt%, 8 wt%, 9 wt%, 10 wt%, or more. The at least one photoinhibitor may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount up to about 10 wt%, 9 wt%, 8 wt%, 7 wt%, 6 wt%, 5 wt%, 4 wt%, 3 wt%, 2 wt%, 1 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.1 wt%, or less.

Alternatively or additionally, the photosensitive resin may include a co-initiator. Coinitiators can be used to increase the polymerization rate of the polymeric precursor. Suitable classes of co-initiators may include: primary, secondary and tertiary amines; an alcohol; and mercaptans. Examples of co-initiators may include: isoamyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate, 2-ethylhexyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate; ethyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate (EDMAB); propyl 3- (dimethylamino) acrylate; 2- (dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate; 4- (dimethylamino) benzophenone; 4- (diethylamino) benzophenone; 4, 4' -bis (diethylamino) benzophenone; methyldiethanolamine; triethylamine; hexanethiol; heptane mercaptan; octane mercaptan; nonane thiol; decane thiol; undecanethiol; dodecyl mercaptan; isooctyl 3-mercaptopropionate; pentaerythritol tetrakis (3-mercaptopropionate); 4, 4' -thiobis-thiophenol; trimethylolpropane tris (3-mercaptopropionate); CN374 (Sartomer); CN371(Sartomer), CN373 (Sartomer); genomer 5142 (Rahn); genomer 5161 (Rahn); genomer 5271 (Rahn); genomer 5275(Rahn) and TEMPIC (Bruno Boc, Germany).

In some cases, at least one photoinitiator and co-initiator may be activated by the same light. The at least one photoinitiator and the co-initiator may be activated by the same wavelength of the same light and/or two different wavelengths. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one photoinitiator and the co-initiator may be activated by different light comprising different wavelengths. The system can include a co-initiator light source configured to direct co-initiator light including a wavelength sufficient to activate the co-initiator to the film of viscous liquid.

The co-initiator may be a small molecule (e.g., a monomer). Alternatively or additionally, the co-initiator may be an oligomer or polymer comprising a plurality of small molecules. The co-initiator may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount between about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%. The co-initiator can be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount of at least about 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, 5 wt%, 6 wt%, 7 wt%, 8 wt%, 9 wt%, 10 wt%, or more. The co-initiator can be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount up to about 10 wt%, 9 wt%, 8 wt%, 7 wt%, 6 wt%, 5 wt%, 4 wt%, 3 wt%, 2 wt%, 1 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.1 wt%, or less.

The resin may further comprise a plurality of particles and a reactant for performing a self-propagating reaction. The reactants may comprise an oxidant, a fuel, and/or a solvent. The oxidant may be ammonium Nitrate (NH)₄NO₃) Nitric acid (HNO)₃) Metal nitrate, nitrate hydrate, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof. The metal nitrate may comprise nitrate ions anda metal. The nitrate hydrate may comprise nitrate ions and one or more water molecules. The fuel may be urea (CH)₄N₂O), glycine (C)₂H₅NO₂) Sucrose (C)₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) Glucose, citric acid, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the fuel can be a hydrazine-based fuel (e.g., carbohydrazide, oxalyl dihydrazide, hexamethylenetetramine, acetylacetone, functional variants thereof, or combinations thereof). The solvent may be water, a hydrocarbon (e.g. kerosene or benzene) and/or an alcohol (e.g. ethanol, methanol, furfuryl alcohol, 2-methoxyethanol or formaldehyde).

In some cases, the plurality of reactants may comprise a solvent. The solvent may be boiled off upon exposure of the plurality of reactants in the resin to an external energy source. In some cases, the solvent may boil off and leave material containing the oxidant and/or fuel. The material may be solid, semi-solid, crystalline and/or semi-crystalline. In some cases, such materials may be reduced in a reduction process (e.g., a reduction reaction). The reduction reaction may include the loss of an oxygen atom and/or the gain of one or more electrons by one or more components of the material (e.g., oxidant and/or fuel). The reduction process may generate or dissipate heat. In some cases, the heat generated or dissipated may initiate the burning and/or combustion of one or more fuels present in the reactants. In some cases, the reactants may comprise one or more oxygen donor materials (e.g., an oxidant). The one or more oxygen donor materials may provide oxygen to the fuel to allow the fuel to combust and/or initiate a self-propagating reaction that includes one or more oxidation reactions. The amount of heat generated and/or dissipated by the reduction reaction and/or the one or more oxidation reactions may be related in part to the ratio of fuel to oxidant and/or the amount of oxidant present. As the self-propagating reaction proceeds, the plurality of particles in the green part may melt or partially melt. Alternatively, as the self-propagating reaction proceeds, portions of the polymeric material and/or binder in the green part may decompose and/or be removed from the green part.

The photosensitive resin may include one or more dyes. The one or more dyes may be used to attenuate light, to transfer energy to a photosensitive substance, or both. One or more dyes can transfer energy to the photosensitive substance to increase the sensitivity of the photosensitive resin to the first light of the photoinitiation process, the second light of the photoinhibition process, or both. In one example, the photosensitive resin includes at least one dye configured to absorb a second light having a second wavelength for activating the at least one photoinhibition agent. Exposing the photosensitive resin to a second light can cause the at least one dye to absorb the second light and (i) reduce the amount of the second light exposed to the at least one photoinhibitor, thereby controlling the depth of penetration of the second light into the film of viscous liquid, and/or (ii) transfer some of the absorbed energy from the second light to the at least one photoinhibitor (e.g., via Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)), thereby improving the efficiency of photoinhibition. Examples of the one or more dyes may include compounds commonly used as Ultraviolet (UV) absorbers, including 2-hydroxyphenyl-benzophenone, 2- (2-hydroxyphenyl) -benzotriazole, and 2-hydroxyphenyl-s-triazine. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more dyes may include dyes for histological staining or staining of fabric, including marquis yellow, quinoline yellow, sudan red, sudan I, sudan IV, eosin Y, neutral red, and acid red.

The concentration of the one or more dyes in the photosensitive resin may depend on the light absorption properties of the one or more dyes. The one or more dyes may be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount between about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%. The one or more dyes can be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount of at least about 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, 5 wt%, 6 wt%, 7 wt%, 8 wt%, 9 wt%, 10 wt%, or more. The one or more dyes can be present in the photosensitive resin in an amount up to about 10 wt%, 9 wt%, 8 wt%, 7 wt%, 6 wt%, 5 wt%, 4 wt%, 3 wt%, 2 wt%, 1 wt%, 0.9 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.6 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.1 wt%, or less.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a green part for forming a three-dimensional object. The green part may comprise a plurality of particles and reactants for carrying out a self-propagating reaction in the green part, as described above. Self-propagating reactions in the green part may generate heat in the green part. This heat may be sufficient to de-bond or pre-sinter the green part, as previously described. The green part may be processed (e.g., heated) to produce at least a portion of the final 3D object.

Another different aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for forming a three-dimensional (3D) object. The method may include providing a resin adjacent to a build surface, the resin comprising (i) a binder configured to decompose at a first temperature, (ii) a polymeric precursor configured to form a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material is configured to decompose at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, and (iii) a plurality of particles. The build surface can be any surface on which resin can be disposed, dispensed, or deposited using any one or more of the 3D printing methods described herein (e.g., an open platform including a printing window). The binder may be any compound or resin that retains or partially retains the green part including the plurality of particles in a shape corresponding to the 3D object or a portion of the 3D object. The binder may comprise poly (propylene carbonate) or paraformaldehyde. The polymeric precursor may be a polymerizable and/or crosslinkable component such as a monomer. The polymeric precursor can be configured to form a polymeric material by polymerizing monomers into the polymeric material and/or crosslinking oligomers into the polymeric material. For example, the polymeric precursor may form a polymeric material when a photoinitiator in the resin is activated by a first light comprising a first wavelength and subsequently initiates polymerization and/or crosslinking of the polymeric precursor. The polymeric material may be a polymer (polymeric) network. The plurality of particles may comprise at least one metal particle, at least one ceramic particle, or a combination thereof. A plurality of particles may be encapsulated in a polymer (polymeric) network.

The resin may be used to produce a green part corresponding to the 3D object using any one or more of the 3D printing methods disclosed herein. The green part may comprise a binder, a polymeric material, and/or a plurality of particles. The binder may be configured to decompose at a first temperature. The binder decomposition may include heating the green part to a first temperature, and removing the binder from the green part by dissolving and/or evaporating at least a portion of the binder. Dissolving may include using heat to remove at least a portion of the binder from the green part in liquid form. The evaporation may include using heat to remove at least a portion of the binder from the green part in a gas or vapor form. The polymeric material may be configured to decompose at a second temperature. Decomposing the polymeric material may include heating the green part to a second temperature and removing the polymeric material from the green part by dissolving and/or evaporating at least a portion of the polymeric material. Dissolving may include utilizing heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material from the green part in liquid form. The evaporation may include using heat to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material from the green part in a gaseous or vapor form.

The green part may be heated at a first temperature to decompose at least a portion of the binder and create one or more pores in the green part. After heating the green part to the first temperature to decompose at least a portion of the binder, the green part may comprise a polymeric material and a plurality of particles. The green part may then be heated at or above the second temperature to decompose at least a portion of the polymeric material, thereby producing a green part comprising a plurality of particles. Decomposing the polymeric material and/or binder may include heating the green part at or above the second temperature to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder through one or more apertures in the green part.

In some cases, heating the green part at the first temperature may decompose at least a portion of the binder, but may not decompose the polymeric material. Alternatively, heating the green part at the first temperature may decompose at least a portion of the polymeric material in the green part. In some cases, heating the green blank at the first temperature may create one or more holes in at least a portion of the 3D object. The one or more apertures may be a plurality of apertures. In other cases, heating the green part at the first temperature may create at least one continuous porous network in the green part. The at least one continuous porous network may include one or more pores in at least a portion of the 3D object.

Heating the green part at a first temperature may decompose the binder into a gas. The gas may comprise carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water and/or formaldehyde.

In some cases, heating the green part at or above the second temperature may decompose at least a portion of the binder and/or polymeric material of the green part. Decomposing the polymeric material and/or binder may include heating the green part at or above the second temperature to remove at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder through one or more apertures in the green part. In some cases, heating the green part at or above the second temperature may sinter the plurality of particles. Sintering may include melting one or more of the plurality of particles together in the green part at one or more grain boundaries between one or more of the plurality of particles. In some cases, sintering may include closing one or more pores or porous networks created in the green part during debinding. In other cases, sintering may include removing at least a portion of the polymeric material and/or binder remaining in the green part after debinding and/or presintering.

The green part may be heated to the first temperature and/or the second temperature using any one or more thermal energy sources, as disclosed elsewhere herein. Examples of thermal energy sources may include lamps, flashlights, lasers, heaters, furnaces, or open flames. The furnace may be a closed chamber with thermal energy supplied by fuel combustion, electricity, conduction, convection, induction, radiation, or any combination thereof. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by resistive heating. Resistive heating may include heating by passing an electric current through the material. The material may be a conductive material having electrical resistivity that may impede movement of electrons through the material or cause electrons to collide with each other to generate heat. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by induction heating. Induction heating may include the use of electromagnetic induction to generate an electrical current within an electrically conductive material. The thermal energy source may provide thermal energy by dielectric heating. Dielectric heating may include rotating molecules within a material using radio wave or microwave electromagnetic radiation. In some cases, the thermal energy source may be a process chamber. The temperature of the process chamber can be regulated using any one or more of the thermal energy sources disclosed herein. The treatment chamber may be an oven or a furnace. The oven or furnace may be heated by a variety of heating methods, such as resistive heating, convective heating, and/or radiant heating. Examples of furnaces include induction furnaces, electric arc furnaces, gas furnaces, plasma arc furnaces, microwave furnaces, and resistance furnaces. Such heating may be employed at a fixed or varying heating rate from an initial temperature to a target temperature or temperature range. One or more thermal energy sources for heating the green part to the first temperature and/or the second temperature may be located outside the green part.

The first temperature may be between about 150 degrees celsius and about 350 degrees celsius. The first temperature may be at least about 150 degrees celsius, 160 degrees celsius, 170 degrees celsius, 180 degrees celsius, 190 degrees celsius, 200 degrees celsius, 210 degrees celsius, 220 degrees celsius, 230 degrees celsius, 240 degrees celsius, 250 degrees celsius, 260 degrees celsius, 270 degrees celsius, 280 degrees celsius, 290 degrees celsius, 300 degrees celsius, 310 degrees celsius, 320 degrees celsius, 330 degrees celsius, 340 degrees celsius, 350 degrees celsius, or more. The first temperature may be at most about 350 degrees celsius, 340 degrees celsius, 330 degrees celsius, 320 degrees celsius, 310 degrees celsius, 300 degrees celsius, 290 degrees celsius, 280 degrees celsius, 270 degrees celsius, 260 degrees celsius, 250 degrees celsius, 240 degrees celsius, 230 degrees celsius, 220 degrees celsius, 210 degrees celsius, 200 degrees celsius, 190 degrees celsius, 180 degrees celsius, 170 degrees celsius, 160 degrees celsius, 150 degrees celsius, or less.

The second temperature may be greater than or equal to about 400 degrees celsius. In some cases, the second temperature may be greater than or equal to about 500 degrees celsius. The second temperature may be at least about 400 degrees celsius, 450 degrees celsius, 500 degrees celsius, 550 degrees celsius, 600 degrees celsius, 650 degrees celsius, 700 degrees celsius, 750 degrees celsius, 800 degrees celsius, 850 degrees celsius, 900 degrees celsius, 950 degrees celsius, 1000 degrees celsius, 1050 degrees celsius, 1100 degrees celsius, 1150 degrees celsius, 1200 degrees celsius, 1250 degrees celsius, 1300 degrees celsius, 1350 degrees celsius, 1400 degrees celsius, 1450 degrees celsius, 1500 degrees celsius, 1550 degrees celsius, 1600 degrees celsius, 1700 degrees celsius, 1800 degrees celsius, 1900 degrees celsius, 2000 degrees celsius, 2100 degrees celsius, 2200 degrees celsius, or more.

The resin may comprise at least one photoinitiator configured to initiate formation of a polymeric material from a polymeric precursor, as previously described. For example, the at least one photoinitiator may be a photon-absorbing compound that (i) is activated by a first light comprising a first wavelength and (ii) initiates photopolymerization of the polymeric precursor. The resin may further comprise at least one photo-inhibitor configured to inhibit the formation of polymeric material from the polymeric precursor, as described herein. For example, the at least one photo-inhibitor may be another photon-absorbing compound that (i) is activated by a second light comprising a second wavelength and (ii) inhibits photo-polymerization of the polymeric precursor.

The methods disclosed herein may further include exposing the resin adjacent to the build surface to a first light under conditions sufficient for the at least one photoinitiator to initiate formation of a polymeric material from the polymeric precursor, as previously described. The methods disclosed herein may further comprise exposing the resin adjacent to the build surface to a second light under conditions sufficient for the at least one photoinhibitor to inhibit the formation of polymeric material adjacent to the build surface, as previously described.

The first light may include a first wavelength and the second light may include a second wavelength. The first wavelength and the second wavelength may be different. The first wavelength may be sufficient to activate at least one photoinitiator and the second wavelength may be sufficient to activate at least one photoinhibition agent. The first light may be a light-induced light and the second light may be a light-suppressed light. The methods disclosed herein may further comprise directing photoinitiating light to the resin to initiate formation of the polymeric material from the polymeric precursor. The methods disclosed herein may further include directing light-inhibiting light to the resin to inhibit formation of polymeric material adjacent to the build surface.

The build surface may comprise an optically transparent or translucent window. Accordingly, any one or more of the methods disclosed herein can further comprise exposing the resin to photoinitiating light and/or photoinhibiting light through the optically transparent or translucent window. In some cases, the methods disclosed herein can further include directing photoinitiating light and/or photoinhibiting light through the optically transparent or translucent window.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a method of generating a three-dimensional (3D) object. As shown in fig. 2, in a first operation 201, a 3D object may be created by first providing resin adjacent to a build surface. The resin may include a binder configured to decompose at a first temperature, a polymeric precursor configured to form a polymeric material, and a plurality of particles. The polymeric material may be configured to decompose at a second temperature greater than the first temperature. Next, in a second operation 202, the resin may be used to create a green part corresponding to the 3D object. The green part may include a binder, a polymeric material, and a plurality of particles. Then, in a third operation 203, the green part may be heated at the first temperature to decompose at least a portion of the binder and create one or more holes in the green part. Then, in a fourth operation 204, the green part may be heated at or above the second temperature to decompose at least a portion of the polymeric material, thereby creating the 3D object.

Computer system

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a computer system programmed or otherwise configured to implement the methods of the disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a computer system 301 programmed or otherwise configured to implement a method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) object. The computer system 301 may control the generation of a green part in a desired shape based on the 3D object, debinding or pre-sintering the green part using an external energy source to initiate a self-propagating reaction, heating the green part to a first temperature using an external heat source to remove the binder from the green part, heating the green part to a second temperature using an external heat source to remove the polymeric precursor from the green part, and/or sintering the green part using an external heat source. Computer system 301 can be a user's electronic device or a computer system that is remote from the electronic device. The electronic device may be a mobile electronic device.

The computer system 301 includes a central processing unit (CPU, also referred to herein as a "processor" and a "computer processor") 305, which may be a single or multi-core processor or a plurality of processors for parallel processing. Computer system 301 also includes memory or memory location 310 (e.g., random access memory, read only memory, flash memory), electronic storage unit 315 (e.g., hard disk), communication interface 320 (e.g., network adapter) for communicating with one or more other systems, and peripheral devices 325, such as cache, other memory, data storage, and/or an electronic display adapter. The memory 310, storage unit 315, interface 320, and peripherals 325 communicate with the CPU 305 through a communication bus (solid lines) such as a motherboard. The storage unit 315 may be a data storage unit (or data repository) for storing data. Computer system 301 may be operatively coupled to a computer network ("network") 330 by way of a communication interface 320. The network 330 may be the internet, the internet and/or an extranet, or an intranet and/or extranet in communication with the internet. Network 330 is in some cases a telecommunications and/or data network. Network 330 may include one or more computer servers, which may support distributed computing such as cloud computing. In some cases, network 330, with the aid of computer system 301, may implement a peer-to-peer network that may cause devices coupled to computer system 301 to act as clients or servers.

The CPU 305 may execute a series of machine-readable instructions, which may be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may be stored in a memory location such as memory 310. The instructions may be directed to the CPU 305, and the CPU 305 may then program or otherwise configure the CPU 305 to implement the methods of the present disclosure. Examples of operations performed by the CPU 305 may include fetch, decode, execute, and write-back.

The CPU 305 may be part of a circuit such as an integrated circuit. One or more components of system 301 may be included in a circuit. In some cases, the circuit is an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

The storage unit 315 may store files such as drivers, libraries, and saved programs. The storage unit 315 may store user data, such as user preferences and user programs. Computer system 301 can, in some cases, include one or more additional data storage units located external to computer system 301, such as on a remote server in communication with computer system 301 over an intranet or the internet.

Computer system 301 may communicate with one or more remote computer systems over network 330. For example, computer system 301 may communicate with a remote computer system from a user (e.g., an end user, a consumer, an engineer, a designer, etc.). Examples of remote computer systems include a personal computer (e.g., a laptop PC), a board or tablet PC (e.g., a tablet PC)iPad、Galaxy Tab), telephone, smartphone (e.g., for exampleiPhone, Android-enabled device,) Or a personal digital assistant. A user may access computer system 301 via network 330.

The methods as described herein may be implemented by way of machine (e.g., computer processor) executable code stored on an electronic storage location of the computer system 301, such as, for example, the memory 310 or the electronic storage unit 315. The machine executable code or machine readable code may be provided in the form of software. During use, the code may be executed by the processor 305. In some cases, the code may be retrieved from storage unit 315 and stored on memory 310 for access by processor 305. In some cases, electronic storage unit 315 may be eliminated, and machine-executable instructions stored on memory 310.

The code may be pre-compiled and configured for use with a machine having a processor adapted to execute the code, or may be compiled during runtime. The code may be provided in a programming language that may be selected to cause the code to be executed in a pre-compiled or just-in-time manner.

Aspects of the systems and methods provided herein, such as computer system 301, may be embodied in programming. Various aspects of the described technology may be considered as an "article of manufacture" or "article of manufacture" typically in the form of machine (or processor) executable code and/or associated data embodied or embodied in a type of machine-readable medium. The machine executable code may be stored on an electronic storage unit, such as a memory (e.g., read only memory, random access memory, flash memory) or a hard disk. A "storage" type medium may include any or all of a tangible memory of a computer, processor, etc., or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, hard drives, etc., that may provide non-transitory storage for software programming at any time. All or part of the software may sometimes communicate through the internet or various other telecommunications networks. Such communication may, for example, cause software to be loaded from one computer or processor into another computer or processor, such as from a management server or host computer into the computer platform of the application server. Thus, another type of media that might carry software elements includes optical, electrical, and electromagnetic waves, such as those used across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired-optical land-line networks, and via various air links. The physical elements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links, etc., may also be considered the medium that carries the software. As used herein, unless limited to a non-transitory tangible "storage" medium, terms such as a computer or machine "readable medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.

Thus, a machine-readable medium, such as computer executable code, may take many forms, including but not limited to tangible storage media, carrier wave media, or physical transmission media. Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any storage device in any computer or the like, such as might be used to implement a database or the like as shown in the figures. Volatile storage media includes dynamic memory, such as the main memory of such computer platforms. Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer system. Carrier-wave transmission media may take the form of electrical or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during Radio Frequency (RF) and Infrared (IF) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media therefore include, for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical storage medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read programming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.

The computer system 301 may include or be in communication with an electronic display 335 that includes a User Interface (UI)340 for providing a port for monitoring, for example, the generation of three-dimensional (3D) objects. The user may use the port to control de-bonding, pre-sintering, or sintering of the green part, or to view information related to material properties (e.g., density or volume) of the green part before, during, and/or after de-bonding, pre-sintering, or sintering. The port may be provided through an Application Programming Interface (API). The user or entity may also interact with various elements of the port via the UI. Examples of UIs include, without limitation, Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and web-based user interfaces.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more algorithms. The algorithms may be implemented in software when executed by the central processing unit 305. An algorithm may be configured to control the computer system to generate a green blank in a desired shape corresponding to a three-dimensional (3D) object. The algorithm may also be configured to control an external energy source to supply external energy to the reactants in the green part to initiate a self-propagating reaction to generate heat sufficient to de-bond and/or pre-sinter the green part. The algorithm may be further configured to control an energy source external to the green part to supply heat to the green part and sinter the plurality of particles in the green part to produce the desired 3D object. Alternatively, the algorithm may be configured to control the computer system to produce the green part using a resin. The algorithm may be configured to control the one or more light sources to initiate and/or inhibit the formation of polymeric material from the precursor in the resin in the green part. The algorithm may be further configured to control the thermal energy source to heat the green part at a first temperature to decompose the portion of the binder in the green part. The algorithm may be further configured to control the thermal energy source to heat the green part at the second temperature to decompose the portion of the polymeric material in the green part. The algorithm may be further configured to control the thermal energy source to heat the green part and sinter the plurality of particles in the green part to produce the desired 3D object.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific examples provided in this specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the foregoing specification, the descriptions and illustrations of the embodiments herein are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Numerous modifications, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Further, it is to be understood that all aspects of the present invention are not limited to the particular descriptions, configurations, or relative proportions set forth herein in accordance with various conditions and variables. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the present invention shall also cover any such alternatives, modifications, variations or equivalents. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.