3D Printing Fusing Agent Carbamide Softening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional printing technologies face challenges in achieving optimal mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and Shore hardness, in printed objects, particularly with thermoplastic polyurethane and polyamide materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of a fusing agent containing a carbamide-containing compound, like urea or bi-urea, which is applied to the polymeric build material and exposed to electromagnetic radiation, allowing for controlled softening and modification of mechanical properties in the printed objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional fusing agents are used without carbamide-containing compounds, then the polymeric build material achieves adequate fusion and structural integrity, but the printed objects exhibit high Shore hardness and increased brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the fusing agent by incorporating carbamide-containing compounds (urea or bi-urea) at specific concentrations (4-12 wt%). This chemical parameter modification alters the fusion process, resulting in printed objects with reduced Shore hardness and improved tensile strength while decreasing brittleness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fusing agent is formulated as a composite material containing multiple components: aqueous liquid vehicle, radiation absorber, organic co-solvent, and carbamide-containing compound. This composite formulation creates a synergistic effect where the carbamide compound modifies the polymer matrix during fusion, producing objects with optimized mechanical properties that balance strength and flexibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the Shore hardness of printed objects is reduced to improve flexibility, then the objects become less brittle, but the structural integrity and strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By precisely controlling the concentration of carbamide-containing compounds (4-12 wt%) and the application conditions, the invention achieves optimal parameter settings that simultaneously reduce Shore hardness and maintain structural integrity. The carbamide compound creates a modified polymer structure that retains strength while reducing brittleness.
Solution Approach 2:
The carbamide-containing compound is applied locally through the fusing agent during the printing process, creating localized modification in the polymer matrix where fusion occurs. This local quality change allows different regions of the printed object to have optimized properties, with the fused regions exhibiting reduced brittleness while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the reduction of Shore hardness and potentially increases tensile strength, resulting in three-dimensional objects with improved mechanical properties and reduced brittleness.
Implementation Method 1
absorbed light energy at those portions can be converted to thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
causing that portion to melt or coalesce
Implementation Method 3
The presence of the carbamide compound in the fusing agent can provide some softening of the three-dimensional object formed therefrom
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A three-dimensional printing kit can include a polymeric build material and a fusing agent. The polymeric build material can include polymer particles having a D50 particle size from about 2 µm to about 150 µm. The fusing agent can include an aqueous liquid vehicle including water and an organic co-solvent, a radiation absorber to generate heat from absorbed electromagnetic radiation, and from about 2 wt% to about 15 wt% of a carbamide-containing compound.