Build Materials Having A Metallic Appearance For 3D Printing

Abstract

In one aspect, composite build materials for use with a 3D printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, a composite build material described herein comprises a carrier ink comprising a curable material; and pigment particles dispersed in the carrier ink, wherein the pigment particles comprise mica. In some cases, the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of about 80-98% by weight, and the curable material comprises one or more species of monomeric and/or oligomeric (meth)acrylates. Additionally, in some instances, the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of about 2-8% by weight and comprise up to about 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles. The pigment particles, in some cases, can also comprise TiO 2 and/or Fe 2 O 3 .

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A composite build material for use in a three-dimensional printing system comprising:
 a carrier ink comprising a curable material;   pigment particles dispersed in the carrier ink,   
       the pigment particles comprising mica; and
 a colorant dispersed in the carrier ink, the colorant differing from the pigment particles. 
 
     
     
         2 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of 80-98% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material. 
     
     
         3 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the curable material comprises one or more species of (meth)acrylates. 
     
     
         4 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the curable material comprises one or more oligomeric materials. 
     
     
         5 . The composite build material of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more oligomeric materials comprise a urethane (meth)acrylate. 
     
     
         6 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of 2-8% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material. 
     
     
         7 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the pigment particles have an average diameter of 5-500 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the pigment particles comprise up to 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles. 
     
     
         9 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the pigment particles further comprise TiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , or both. 
     
     
         10 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of 85-98% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the curable material comprises a mixture of 45-55% by weight of one or more monomeric (meth)acrylates and 45-55% by weight of one or more oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylates, based on the total weight of the curable material;   the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of 2-8% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the pigment particles have an average diameter of 5-500 μm and comprise up to 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles;   the pigment particles exhibit a gold color;   the colorant is present in the composite build material in an amount of 0.1-2.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material; and   the colorant exhibits a white color.   
     
     
         11 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of 85-98% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the curable material comprises a mixture of 45-55% by weight of one or more monomeric (meth)acrylates and 45-55% by weight of one or more oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylates, based on the total weight of the curable material;   the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of 2-8% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the pigment particles have an average diameter of 5-500 μm and comprise up to 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles;   the pigment particles exhibit a white color;   the colorant is present in the composite build material in an amount of 0.005-0.05% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material; and   the colorant exhibits a black color.   
     
     
         12 . The composite build material of  claim 1  further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of photoinitiators, inhibitors, stabilizing agents, sensitizers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein the composite build material when non-cured exhibits a dynamic viscosity of 400-1000 cP at 30° C. 
     
     
         14 . The composite build material of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the composite build material when cured exhibits a metallic finish. 
     
     
         15 . A printed three-dimensional article comprising:
 a plurality of stacked layers formed from a build material comprising one or more (meth)acrylates, the layers being bonded to one another in the z-direction; and   an exterior surface formed by one or more of the plurality of stacked layers,   wherein the surface exhibits a metallic finish.   
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the surface of the article is not coated with a metal. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the build material comprises a composite build material comprising:
 a carrier ink comprising a curable material;   pigment particles dispersed in the carrier ink, the pigment particles comprising mica; and   a colorant dispersed in the carrier ink, the colorant differing from the pigment particles.   
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of 85-98% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the curable material comprises a mixture of 45-55% by weight of one or more monomeric (meth)acrylates and 45-55% by weight of one or more oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylates, based on the total weight of the curable material;   the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of 2-8% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the pigment particles have an average diameter of 5-500 μm and comprise up to 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles;   the pigment particles exhibit a gold color;   the colorant is present in the composite build material in an amount of 0.1-2.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material; and   the colorant exhibits a white color.   
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of 85-98% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the curable material comprises a mixture of 45-55% by weight of one or more monomeric (meth)acrylates and 45-55% by weight of one or more oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylates, based on the total weight of the curable material;   the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of 2-8% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material;   the pigment particles have an average diameter of 5-500 μm and comprise up to 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles;   the pigment particles exhibit a white color;   the colorant is present in the composite build material in an amount of 0.005-0.05% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite build material; and   the colorant exhibits a black color.   
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the pigment particles further comprise TiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , or both.