Method for printing low-density polymer structures

Patent · 07 September 2021

OSTI ID:1840413

Kunc, Vlastimil; Lindahl, John M.; Love, Lonnie J.; Post, Brian K.; Hassen, Ahmed A.; Liu, Peng; Sudbury, Thomas Zeke

A method of forming a low-density three-dimensional article is provided. The method includes printing a low-density composition on a substrate to form at least one layer comprising the low-density composition. The low-density composition includes a (P) polymer component and (M) a microsphere component in a ratio by volume (P):(M). The method also includes selectively controlling a density of the low-density composition during printing to give the at least one layer on the substrate. Selectively controlling the density of the low-density composition includes varying the ratio (P):(M) during printing. The method further includes repeating the printing and selectively controlling the density of the low-density composition to form additional layer(s), thereby forming the low-density three-dimensional article. A low-density three-dimensional article prepared in accordance with the method is also provided.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): 11,111,359
• Application Number: 16/403,995
• OSTI ID: 1840413
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English