Three-dimensional printing

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional (3D) printing materials kit comprising: a first tailoring agent comprising at least one crosslinking agent; a second tailoring agent comprising at least one plasticizer, and a fusing agent. The present disclosure also relates to a printed structure comprising regions of relatively higher ductility and regions of relatively lower ductility. The regions of relatively higher ductility can be interspersed by the regions of relatively lower ductility, and the regions of relatively lower ductility can be formed from a crosslinked polymer and/or a polymer composition comprising a reinforcing filler, and/or the regions of relatively higher ductility can be formed from a polymer composition comprising a plasticizer. The present disclosure also relates to a method of three dimensional printing (3D) that can be used to print a 3D printed object comprising the printed structure described above.

1 . A three-dimensional (3D) printing materials kit comprising:
 a first tailoring agent comprising at least one crosslinking agent;   a second tailoring agent comprising at least one plasticizer, and   a fusing agent.   
     
     
         2 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises a functional group selected from at least one of epoxy, amine, isocyanate, phosphine and aldehyde. 
     
     
         3 . The kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises an epoxy functional group and is selected from at least one of: 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, phenol glycidyl ether, p-tert-butylphenyl glycidyl ether, dibromo phenyl glycidyl ether, lauryl alcohol glycidyl ether, resorcinol diglycidyl ether, neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether, 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether, glycerol polyglycidyl ether, sorbitol polyglycidyl ether, diglycidyl terephthalate, diglycidyl-o-phthalate, N-glycidyl ether, and tris(4-hydroxyphenyl) methane triglycidyl ether. 
     
     
         4 . The kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the crosslinking agent comprises an amine functional group and is selected from at least one of: aniline, sulphonamide, tetraethylenepentamine, dipropylenediamine, diethylaminopropylamine, N-aminoethylpiperazine, bis(2-ethylhexyl)amine, methanediamine methylphenyl diamine, methylphenylenediamine, diaminodiphenyl sulfone, diethylenetriamine, and triethylenetetramine. 
     
     
         5 . The kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the first tailoring agent comprises a first crosslinking agent comprising an epoxy functional group, and a second crosslinking agent comprising an amine functional group. 
     
     
         6 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from at least one plasticizer selected from: 2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, dioctyl phthalate, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-2-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, urea, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, lactones, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, decalin, gamma-butyrolactone, dimethylformamide, phenylmethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 2-methyl-benzene sulphonamide, 4-methyl benzene, 2-methyl-benzene sulphonamide, N-butylbenzenesulfonamide, N-ethylbenzenesulfonamide, N-propylbenzenesulfonamide, N-butyl-N-dodecylbenzenesulfonamide, N,N-dimethylbenzenesulfonamide, p-methylbenzenesulfonamide, o/p-toluene sulphonamide, p-toluene sulphonamide, 2-ethylhexyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, hexadecyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, 1-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, dioctyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, di(-2-ethylhexyl) adipate, and tri-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate. 
     
     
         7 . The kit according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a build material comprising polymer particles. 
     
     
         8 . The kit according to  claim 8 , wherein the polymer of the build material is selected from at least one of polyamide, polyolefin, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyester, polycarbonate, polyether ketone, polyacrylate and polystyrene. 
     
     
         9 . A printed structure comprising regions of relatively higher ductility and regions of relatively lower ductility, wherein the regions of relatively higher ductility are interspersed by the regions of relatively lower ductility, and wherein the regions of relatively lower ductility are formed from a crosslinked polymer and/or a polymer composition comprising a reinforcing filler, and/or wherein the regions of relatively higher ductility are formed from a polymer composition comprising a plasticizer. 
     
     
         10 . The structure according to  claim 9 , which is a cellular microstructure cellular structure, wherein the cell walls form the regions of relatively low ductility, and/or regions between the cell walls form the regions of relatively high ductility. 
     
     
         11 . A method for printing a three-dimensional (3D) printed object, the method comprising:
 selectively applying a first tailoring agent to a build material;   and   exposing the build material to radiation, thereby fusing at least part of the build material to form a layer,   wherein the first tailoring agent comprises a reinforcing agent or a ductility-increasing agent, and   wherein the first tailoring agent is selectively applied to form regions of relatively higher ductility interspersed with regions of relatively lower ductility in the 3D printed object.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , which further comprises:
 selectively applying a second tailoring agent to the build material;   wherein the first tailoring agent comprises one of the reinforcing agent and a ductility-increasing agent, and the second tailoring agent comprises the other of the reinforcing agent and ductility-increasing agent, and   wherein the first tailoring agent and second tailoring agent are selectively applied to form the regions of relatively higher ductility interspersed with the regions of relatively lower ductility.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the object has a structure that comprises a cellular structure, and wherein a reinforcing agent is selectively applied to form cell walls having a relatively lower ductility, and/or wherein a ductility-increasing agent is applied to form regions having a relatively higher ductility between the cell walls. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing agent comprises a crosslinking agent or a reinforcing filler. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the reinforcing agent comprises a reinforcing filler and the reinforcing filler is selected from particles of at least one of boron, boron nitride materials, silica, alumina, titanium dioxide, glass, carbon nanomaterials, montmorillonite, talc, basalt, silicon carbide, metal carbide, metal carbide, silicon nitride, metal nitride, polyaramid, metal, metal alloy, diamond, boron carbide, mica, wollastonite, and ceramic.