Method of preparing porous silicone article and use of the silicone article

A method of forming a porous three-dimensional (3D) silicone article, said method comprising:

• I) printing a first composition with a 3D printer to form a first layer from the first composition;
• II) printing a second composition on the first layer with the 3D printer to form a second layer from the second composition on the first layer;
• optionally, repeating step II) with independently selected composition(s) for any additional layer(s);
• and
• III) exposing the layers to a solidification condition;
• wherein at least one of the first and second compositions comprises a silicone composition selected from (a) hydrosilylation-curable silicone compositions;
• (b) condensation-curable silicone compositions;
• (c) thiol-ene reaction-curable silicone compositions;
• (d) free-radical-curable silicone compositions;
• and (e) ring-opening reaction-curable silicone compositions;
• wherein at least one of the first and second layers does not consist of linear filaments;
• wherein the porous three-dimensional (3D) silicone article defines a plurality of voids;
• wherein the first layer comprises a first non-linear filament and the second layer comprises a second non-linear filament, and wherein the plurality of voids are defined by at least the first and second non-linear filaments;
• or
• wherein:
• (i) the first layer comprises fused droplets formed from the first composition, the second layer comprises fused droplets formed from the second composition, and wherein the plurality of voids are defined by at least deposition patterns of the fused droplets of the first and second layers, respectively;
• (ii) the first layer comprises fused powders formed from the first composition, the second layer comprises fused powders formed form the second composition, and wherein the plurality of voids are defined by at least fusion patterns of the fused powders of the first and second layers, respectively;
• (iii) the first layer comprises a selectively solidified pattern, the second layer comprises a selectively solidified pattern, and wherein the plurality of voids are defined at least by solidification patterns of the selectively solidified patterns of the first and second layers, respectively;
• or (iv) a combination of (i) to (iii);
• or
• wherein the method prepares a 3D silicone article, and the method further comprises forming voids in the 3D silicone article to provide the porous 3D silicone article by (i) selectively etching portions of the 3D silicone article to form the plurality of voids and give the porous 3D silicone article;
• (ii) exposing the layers to the solidification condition to selectively solidify portions of the 3D silicone article to form the plurality of voids, thereby forming the porous 3D silicone article;
• or (iii) both (i) and (ii).