Support material formulations usable in additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects at low temperatures
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorsElena Shpayzer, Eduardo Napadensky, Raffy Sarfati, Mayan Rumbak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Formulations usable as support material in additive manufacturing such as 3D inkjet printing and which feature a viscosity of no more than 50 cPs at 35° C., are provided. The formulations are composed of at least one hydrophilic curable material which provides, when hardened, a material that is dissolvable or swellable in an aqueous solution; and at least one non-curable material that is capable of being swelled by said hardened material formed of said at least one curable material. Additive manufacturing processes utilizing these formulations and objects obtained thereby are also provided.
Claims18
A support material formulation usable in additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object, the formulation comprising:
- at least one hydrophilic curable material which provides, when hardened, a material that is dissolvable or swellable in an aqueous solution, in an amount of from 20 to 25 weight percent of the total weight of the formulation;
- and
- at least one non-curable material in an amount of from 65 to 80 weight percent of the total weight of the formulation,
- wherein said at least one curable material comprises a monofunctional hydrophilic curable material and a multifunctional hydrophilic curable material, wherein a weight ratio of said monofunctional and multifunctional curable materials ranges from 2:1 to 5:1, and wherein said monofunctional curable material comprises a poly (alkylene glycol) acrylate, and said multifunctional curable material comprises a polyether urethane di- or tri-acrylate, and said at least one non-curable material comprises propylene carbonate, such that a swelling capacity of said hardened material for said at least non-curable material or for a mixture of said at least non-curable material and water, if present, is of at least 70% by weight of a weight of said hardened material,
- the formulation featuring a viscosity of no more than 50 cPs at 35° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.