Vascular channel manufacture by deflagration
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsNicole Ellison, Anthony M. Coppola
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming channels within a substrate includes: (a) molding a sacrificial component directly into the substrate; (b) igniting the sacrificial component to cause a deflagration of the sacrificial component, thereby forming a channel in the substrate; and (c) cleaning the channel in the substrate to remove byproducts of the deflagration of the sacrificial component. The sacrificial component includes a combustible material with a protective shell, and the substrate includes a polymeric material.
Claims18
A method of forming channels within a substrate, comprising:
- molding a sacrificial component directly into the substrate;
- igniting the sacrificial component to cause deflagration of the sacrificial component, thereby forming a channel in the substrate;
- cleaning the channel in the substrate to remove byproducts of the deflagration of the sacrificial component;
- wherein the molding of the sacrificial component directly into the substrate includes:
- placing the sacrificial component in a mold;
- pressurizing a polymeric resin;
- shooting the polymeric resin into the mold;
- and
- curing the polymeric resin.
A method of forming channels within a substrate, comprising:
- molding a sacrificial component directly into the substrate;
- igniting the sacrificial component to cause deflagration of the sacrificial component, thereby forming a channel in the substrate;
- cleaning the channel in the substrate to remove byproducts of the deflagration of the sacrificial component;
- wherein the molding of the sacrificial component directly into the substrate includes:
- placing the sacrificial component in a mold;
- pouring a metallic material into the mold;
- and
- cooling the metallic material to allow the metallic material to solidify.
A method of forming channels within a substrate, comprising:
- 3D printing a sacrificial component, wherein the sacrificial component includes a combustible material, and the combustible material has a flash point;
- molding the sacrificial component with the substrate such that the sacrificial component is at least partially disposed inside the substrate, wherein the molding occurs at a processing temperature, and the processing temperature is less than the flash point;
- igniting the sacrificial component to cause a deflagration of the sacrificial component, thereby forming a channel in the substrate;
- and
- cleaning the channel in the substrate to remove byproducts of the deflagration of the sacrificial component;
- and
- wherein cleaning the channel in the substrate includes introducing a liquid into the channel in the substrate to remove byproducts of the deflagration of the sacrificial component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.