3D Printing Fusing Agent Plasmonic Absorber White Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printing methods face challenges in producing white or slightly colored parts due to the absorption of visible radiation by fusing agents, leading to strongly colored outputs, and lack efficient methods for selective fusion and binding of build materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of a fusing agent containing a plasmonic resonance absorber dispersed in an aqueous or non-aqueous vehicle, which absorbs radiation in the range of 800 nm to 4000 nm and is transparent in the 400 nm to 780 nm range, allowing for selective fusion and binding of build materials while producing white or slightly colored 3D parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional fusing agents are used that absorb visible radiation, then selective fusion and binding of build materials is achieved, but the produced parts become strongly colored instead of white or slightly colored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the absorption parameters of the fusing agent by using plasmonic resonance absorbers that absorb in the infrared range (800-4000 nm) rather than the visible range (400-780 nm). This parameter shift allows the fusing agent to remain transparent to visible light while maintaining effective radiation absorption for heating and fusion, thereby resolving the contradiction between binding efficiency and color intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite fusing agents containing plasmonic resonance absorbers dispersed in aqueous or non-aqueous vehicles. These composite materials combine the radiation-absorbing properties of plasmonic particles with the binding and spreading properties of the vehicle, achieving both effective fusion and visual transparency simultaneously.
2Temperature
If fusing agents absorb radiation in the visible spectrum, then heating and fusion occur, but the transparency in visible spectrum is lost resulting in colored parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the absorption spectrum from the visible dimension (400-780 nm) to the infrared dimension (800-4000 nm). By operating in this different spectral dimension, the fusing agent can effectively absorb radiation for heating while remaining transparent in the visible spectrum, thus maintaining both heating capability and visual transparency.
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 production of white or slightly colored 3D parts by effectively converting absorbed radiation to thermal energy for fusion, while maintaining transparency in the visible spectrum, thus overcoming the limitations of existing methods in color and material binding efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The fusing agent includes a plasmonic resonance absorber dispersed in an aqueous or non-aqueous vehicle, the plasmonic resonance absorber having absorption at wavelengths ranging from 800 nm to 4000 nm
Implementation Method 2
The fusing agent is capable of absorbing radiation and converting the absorbed radiation to thermal energy, which in turn melts or sinters the build material that is in contact with the fusing agent
Implementation Method 3
selective melting of regions of the powder layer by means of introduction of electromagnetic energy via laser of wavelength from 100 nm to 1 mm, by means of radiative heaters in the IR-A, and/or IR-B region
Data Source
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AI summary
In a three-dimensional printing method example, a polymeric or polymeric composite build material is applied. A fusing agent is applied on at least a portion of the build material. The fusing agent includes an aqueous or non-aqueous vehicle and a plasmonic resonance absorber having absorption at wavelengths ranging from 800 nm to 4000 nm and having transparency at wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 780 nm dispersed in the aqueous or non-aqueous vehicle. The build material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation, thereby fusing the portion of the build material in contact with the fusing agent to form a layer.