Mercapto-functional Polyorganosiloxane Silicone for 3D Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Silicone-based compositions for additive manufacturing, particularly in stereolithography, face challenges such as non-homogeneous curing, risk of over-curing, and insufficient mechanical properties in 3D-printed articles, along with increased viscosity issues when fillers or surfactants are added, which affect processing time and surface resolution.
Innovation Solution
A radiation-curable silicone composition comprising mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes with high (mercaptoalkyl)methylsiloxane units for dissolving dyes, combined with organosiloxanes having aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon moieties and photo-initiators, allowing for improved homogeneity and mechanical properties, while reducing the need for hydrophilic solvents and surfactants, thus enabling the production of elastomeric 3D articles with enhanced tensile strength and surface resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fillers or surfactants are added to improve mechanical properties, then tensile strength is improved, but viscosity increases which affects processing time and surface resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes with high (mercaptoalkyl)methylsiloxane units (at least 50 mol%, preferably at least 70 mol%) instead of conventional silicone compositions. This parameter change allows the composition to dissolve dyes directly without requiring hydrophilic solvents or excessive surfactants, thereby maintaining lower viscosity while achieving homogeneous curing and improved mechanical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite composition by combining mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes with organosiloxanes having aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon moieties and photo-initiators. This composite material achieves homogeneous curing throughout the composition without the need for excessive surfactants, while still incorporating fillers to improve tensile strength without significantly increasing viscosity
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional silicone-based compositions are used, then processing is simpler, but curing becomes non-homogeneous and mechanical properties are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the silicone composition by incorporating mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes with high (mercaptoalkyl)methylsiloxane unit content (at least 50 mol%, preferably at least 70 mol%). This parameter change enables the composition to dissolve dyes directly without requiring hydrophilic solvents or excessive surfactants, achieving homogeneous curing throughout the composition while maintaining processing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves homogeneity by using mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes that can dissolve dyes directly in the silicone matrix without requiring separate hydrophilic solvent systems. The composition includes organosiloxanes with aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon moieties and photo-initiators that ensure uniform distribution and homogeneous curing throughout the entire composition, eliminating the non-homogeneous curing problems of conventional silicone-based compositions
3Quantity of substance
If hydrophilic solvents and surfactants are used to dissolve dyes, then dye solubility is improved, but viscosity increases and curing homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent system parameters by using mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes with high (mercaptoalkyl)methylsiloxane units (at least 50 mol%, preferably at least 70 mol%) as the primary solvent for dyes. This parameter change eliminates the need for hydrophilic solvents and excessive surfactants, maintaining lower viscosity while achieving adequate dye solubility and homogeneous curing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes the need for hydrophilic solvents and excessive surfactants from the composition by using mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes that can dissolve dyes directly. This extraction eliminates the viscosity-increasing components while maintaining dye solubility and curing homogeneity
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
The composition achieves homogeneous curing, improved mechanical properties, and reduced viscosity, enabling the production of 3D articles with high surface resolution and adequate mechanical strength at faster printing speeds, without the need for hydrophilic solvents or excessive surfactants, thus addressing the limitations of existing silicone-based compositions.
Implementation Method 1
radiation-curable composition comprising mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane(s), organosiloxane(s) with at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon moieties, photo-initiator(s)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a radiation-curable silicone composition for additive-manufacturing technology comprising mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane(s) as Component A, organosiloxane(s) with at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon moieties as Component B, photo-initiator(s) as Component C for initiating a curing reaction between Component A and Component B, dye(s) as Component D dissolved in mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane(s) as Component E, the mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane(s) having a fraction of (mercaptoalkyl)methylsiloxane units of at least 50 mol %, wherein Component D is dissolved in Component E before Component D is combined with the other components of the radiation-curable silicone composition. The invention also relates to a process of producing a radiation-curable composition wherein the process comprises the steps of providing a solution of dye(s) in a composition comprising mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane(s) having a fraction of (mercaptoalkyl)methylsiloxane units of at least 50 mol %, combining the solution containing the dye(s) dissolved in the mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane(s) with mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane(s), organosiloxane(s) with at least two aliphatic unsaturated carbon-carbon moieties, photo-initiator(s) for initiating a curing reaction between Component A and Component B, optionally filler(s), stabilizer(s) and additive(s).