# US 12,180,377 B2 · Titanium inks, methods of making and using the same to make titanium articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,377 B2 - Document ID: US12180377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/364,223 - Filed: 2023-08-02 - Published: 2023-11-23 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-16 - Assignees: Xjet Ltd. - Applicants: Xjet Ltd. - Inventors: Axel Benichou; Sven Ruhle; Tali Aqua - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180377B2 ## CPC - C09D 11/38: characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes - B22F 1/107: containing organic material comprising solvents, e.g. for slip casting - B22F 1/145: Chemical treatment, e.g. passivation or decarburisation - B22F 10/14: by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder - C09D 11/322: Pigment inks - C09D 11/36: based on non-aqueous solvents - B22F 10/43: characterised by material - B22F 12/53: Nozzles - B22F 12/55: Two or more means for feeding material - B22F 2998/10: Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Ti ink compositions for printing, such as ink jet printing, are disclosed. The ink compositions comprise a liquid dispersion of Ti hydride powder having a mean particle size of less than 10.0 microns; a liquid carrier; and at least one surfactant. Methods of making and using the disclosed inks are also disclosed. For example, a finished Ti product can be produced by printing the disclosed ink composition, such as by ink jet printing, to form a green article, heating the green article to dehydrogenate it and form a Ti containing part. The method may further comprise sintering the Ti containing part to produce a sintered Ti product. In an embodiment, the method comprises printing one or more support materials for the ink composition, that comprises solid particles of a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a polymer, or combinations thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making a Ti and/or Ti alloy 3D object by ink jet printing, said method comprising: printing an ink composition on a substrate to form a green article, said composition comprising: Ti hydride powder and/or Ti alloy hydride powder having a mean particle size of less than 10.0 microns; a liquid carrier; and a surfactant, wherein said printing provides a green article; and heating the green article to form the Ti alloy 3D object; wherein the Ti hydride powder and/or Ti alloy hydride powder do not react with the substrate and, the Ti and/or Ti alloy 3D object has the same metallic composition as the Ti hydride powder and/or Ti alloy hydride powder; wherein the Ti alloy is other than Ti-6Al-4V. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein heating the green article comprises at least one step to debind, dehydrogenate, or sinter the green article and produce the Ti and/or Ti alloy 3D object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ink composition further comprises at least one of a wetting agent, a leveling agent, a rheological agent, or a binder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of heating and sintering is done in vacuum or in reducing environment or in inert environment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said heating the green article to debind or dehydrogenate is performed at a temperature up to 1000° C. in vacuum, H2 partial pressure, or in an inert environment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said heating the green article to sinter is performed at a temperature ranging from 1000° C. to 1300° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the printing is done according to a digital object design. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the printing is done by inkjet through an inkjet head, wherein said inkjet head has one or more jetting nozzles having a diameter of 50 microns or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising printing one or more support materials for the ink composition, said support materials comprising solid particles of a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a polymer, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the metal oxide comprises zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, zirconia (ZrO2), silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), titania (TiO2), yttria (Y2O3), or combination thereof, wherein the metal oxide is removed or remains part of finished 3D object to form a Ti and/or Ti alloy and metal oxide article. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the metal carbide comprises silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, or combinations thereof, wherein the metal carbide is removed or remains part of finished 3D object to form a Ti and/or Ti alloy and metal carbide article. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the metal nitride comprises boron nitride, silicon nitride, tungsten nitride, titanium nitride, or combinations thereof, wherein the metal nitride is removed or remains part of finished 3D object to form a Ti and/or Ti alloy and metal nitride article. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the polymer material comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene polystyrene, polyamides (Nylon), polyoxomethylene, or combinations thereof, wherein the polymer material is removed or remains part of finished 3D object to form a Ti and/or Ti alloy and polymer article.