Loading patent…
AssigneeJf Polymers (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
InventorsXiaofan Lu, Zhaokun Pei
Estimating the term…
This invention involves a new and better solution to the problems associated with the premature softening of PLA filaments in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles. It is based upon the finding that poly(lactic acid) filaments with high crystallinity offer much better resistance to heat-induced softening. The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filament of this invention can accordingly be used in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without encountering the problems associated with premature softening, such as poor quality and printer jamming The crystalline poly(lactic acid) filaments of this invention can also be used in additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without compromising the quality of the ultimate product, reducing printing speed, increasing cost, or leading to increased printer complexity. This invention more specifically discloses a filament for use in three-dimensional printing which is comprised of crystalized poly(lactic acid), wherein said filament has a diameter which is within the range of 1.65 mm to 1.85 mm.
A process for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing which includes extruding a filament of poly (lactic acid) into a desired geometric shape by the steps of (1) feeding the filament into a heater block by the use of direct mechanical pressure which is supplied by rollers, (2) heating the filament in the heater block to melt the filament into molten poly (lactic acid), (3) extruding the molten poly (lactic acid) out of a nozzle, and (4) allowing the molten poly (lactic acid) to cool upon being extruded from the nozzle and to solidify into the form of the three-dimensional article, wherein the filament of poly (lactic acid) which is fed into the heater block in step (1) consists of crystalized poly (lactic acid), wherein the crystalized poly (lactic acid) contains a nucleating agent and wherein the nucleating agent is present at a level which is within the range of 0.5 weight percent to 1 weight percent, optionally one or more colorants, optionally one or more pigments, optionally one or more fillers, optionally, one or more fibers, optionally one or more plasticizers, optionally one or more heat/UV stabilizers, optionally one or more process aids, and optionally one or more impact modifiers, wherein the crystalized poly (lactic acid) has a degree of crystallinity which is within the range of 5 percent to 40 percent, wherein said filament has an average diameter, wherein said filament has an average diameter which is within the range of 1.65 mm to 1.85 mm, and wherein said filament is capable of passing through a ring gauge having an internal diameter which is 0.15 mm larger than the average diameter of the filament at a speed of 50 meters/minute without breaking.
A process for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing which includes extruding a filament of poly (lactic acid) into a desired geometric shape by the steps of (1) feeding the filament into a heater block by the use of direct mechanical pressure which is supplied by rollers, (2) heating the filament in the heater block to melt the filament into molten poly (lactic acid), (3) extruding the molten poly (lactic acid) out of a nozzle, and (4) allowing the molten poly (lactic acid) to cool upon being extruded from the nozzle and to solidify into the form of the three-dimensional article, wherein the filament of poly (lactic acid) which is fed into the heater block in step (1) consists of crystalized poly (lactic acid), wherein the poly (lactic acid) is free of colorants, pigments, fillers, fibers, plasticizers, nucleating agents, heat/UV stabilizers, process aids, and impact modifiers, wherein the crystalized poly (lactic acid) has a degree of crystallinity which is within the range of 5 percent to 40 percent, wherein said filament has an average diameter, wherein said filament has a diameter which is within the range of 1.65 mm to 1.85 mm, and wherein said filament is capable of passing through a ring gauge having an internal diameter which is 0.15 mm larger than the average diameter of the filament at a speed of 50 meters/minute without breaking.
A process for manufacturing a three-dimensional article by additive manufacturing which comprises manufacturing a crystalline poly (lactic acid) filament by the the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.