Slurry Mixtures for 3-D Slurry Extrusion of Artifacts

Abstract

A slurry composition for forming an article using additive manufacturing is provided. The slurry composition comprises a carrier having a viscosity of at least 0.001 cP at normal temperature and pressure. The carrier is adapted to be flowable through a nozzle. The slurry composition further comprises a material selected from the group of a metal-containing material, a ceramic-containing material, an inorganic carbon-containing material, a silica-containing material, and combinations thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62 / 825,185, filed Mar. 28, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT[0002]This invention was made with government support under Contract No. DE-AC05-000R22725 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0003]The present invention relates to a slurry composition for additive manufacturing, and more particularly to carriers of the slurry compositions.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0004]Solid products are commonly shaped from powders in processes such as in metal injection molding and ceramic / clay spinning. Powdered materials have been unable to be shaped efficiently with many forms of additive manufacturing (aka “3D Printing”), such as extrusion, due to the lack of flowability of the powdered materials, such...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a slurry composition used for additive manufacturing that contains a carrier and a material such as metal, ceramic, inorganic carbon, or silica. This slurry can be deposited through a nozzle and formed into an article. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a reliable and effective method for creating complex articles with various materials using additive manufacturing.

Problems solved by technology

Powdered materials have been unable to be shaped efficiently with many forms of additive manufacturing (aka “3D Printing”), such as extrusion, due to the lack of flowability of the powdered materials, such as metal and ceramic powders.

The lack of flowability of powders results in the need for bulky additives that not only reduce the packing density of the powder but leave residual materials that negatively impact the composition of the printed article.

However, after formation of the green part, the wax is burned out leaving a low-density article that suffers from shrinkage during firing due to the loss of the wax.