Low-Melting Gold Alloy for 3D Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D printing technologies face challenges in melting and laminating noble metals at temperatures below 400°C, which limits their compatibility with plastic materials in a single process, particularly in FDM and hot melt methods.
Innovation Solution
A noble metal alloy containing gold and other metals like tin, silicon, or germanium, with specific weight percentages, is developed, which can be melt-laminated at temperatures between 280°C to 400°C, allowing for the formation of three-dimensional structures when combined with plastic materials using a 3D printing method that includes heat treatment and extrusion through a nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional noble metals are used in 3D printing, then the material maintains high value and aesthetic properties, but the melting temperature exceeds 400°C making it incompatible with plastic materials in single-process printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the noble metal by creating alloys with specific elements (Ga, In, Bi, etc.) in controlled proportions. This composition modification directly lowers the melting point from above 400°C to 400°C or below, enabling compatibility with plastic materials while retaining gold content for aesthetic and value properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite noble metal alloys by combining gold with low-melting-point metals (Ga, In, Bi, etc.) and optionally other metals (Cu, Ag, Pt, Pd). This composite structure achieves a synergistic effect where the alloy maintains the valuable properties of gold while acquiring the low melting point characteristic needed for single-process 3D printing with plastics
2Reliability
If noble metals are printed separately from plastic materials, then each material can be optimized for its specific properties, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the printing processes for noble metals and plastic materials into a single integrated process. By developing noble metal alloys with melting points at or below 400°C, the invention enables both materials to be processed simultaneously in one 3D printing operation, eliminating the need for separate printing steps while maintaining optimal properties for each material type
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 solution enables the creation of three-dimensional structures using noble metal alloys with gold and other metals, allowing for the integration of noble metals with plastic materials in a single process, expanding the capabilities of 3D printing in producing customized, high-variety products with low-volume production.
Implementation Method 1
the melting point of the alloy is at most 400° C.
Implementation Method 2
melting a noble metal material by performing heat treatment at a temperature of about 280° C. to about 400° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a noble metal material for 3D printing, the noble metal material including an alloy that contains gold (Au) and a first metal that is different from the gold, wherein the alloy contains about 50 wt % to about 100 wt % of the gold and contains more than about 0 wt % and at most about 50 wt % of the first metal, and the melting point of the alloy is at most 400° C.