Refractory metal inks and related systems for and methods of making high-melting-point articles

Abstract

Thin films of precious metals such as platinum and gold have the required ability to withstand high temperatures, but in pure form can suffer from grain growth, agglomeration and dewetting at high temperature. Grain boundaries must therefore be pinned by alloying with other metals and/or by inclusion of non-metallic nanoparticles. While such bulk materials are known in the prior art, they have not existed previously as printable inks that can be deposited by additive manufacturing direct-write methods. These materials have been formulated for the first time as alloy and composite inks so that they may be applied by direct-write additive manufacturing techniques directly onto three-dimensional components or on high temperature substrates that can be adhered to complex components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.