Material system and method for changing properties of a plastic component

• US 8,349,233 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet GmbH
• Inventors: Ederer, Ingo, Günther, Johannes Franz, Günther, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): HAUTH, GALEN H
• Application Number:
  US12/681,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20100244301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 264/128, 264/48, 264/273, 264/425, 427/430.1
• US Class Current: 264/109
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 3/005 incorporating means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material B05C11/1042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 3/02 the work being immersed in the liquid or other fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 5/0283 Flat jet coaters, i.e. apparatus in which the liquid or other fluent material is projected from the outlet as a cohesive flat jet in direction of the work
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/0009 using liquids, e.g. solvents, swelling agents spectacle cases, e.g. for cleaning contact lenses A45C11/04; disinfecting or sterilising contact lenses A61L12/00, using liquid substances A61L2/20; cleaning involving the use of liquid in general B08B3/00; for hydrating contact lenses B29D11/00067
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 70/00 Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2351/00 Characterised by the use of graft polymers in which the grafted component is obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/02 with solvents, e.g. swelling agents
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/18 using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/405 with polymerisable compounds

Abstract

The instant invention relates to a method for changing characteristics of a plastic component, wherein a medium is introduced into the plastic component, which encompasses a porosity and wherein the medium forms a homogenous compound with the plastic component by at least partially dissolving the plastic component.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

bonding synthetic particles together to form a plastic component having a porosity;

changing characteristics of the plastic component after the plastic component is formed by introducing a medium into the plastic component,

wherein the medium forms a homogenous compound with said plastic component by at least partially dissolving the plastic component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a solidification of the introduced medium takes place by means of polymerization.

3. The method, according to claim 1, wherein an outermost layer of the plastic component is solidified in an accelerated manner by, means of chemical and/or physical measures as compared to a remaining portion of the plastic component.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the accelerated solidification of the outermost layer takes place with the use of two polymerization systems comprising different reaction times.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the accelerated solidification of the outermost layer takes place by means of introduction of high-energy radiation.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein UV radiation is used as high-energy radiation.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein introduction of the medium into the plastic component takes place by means of dipping into a vat of the medium.

8. The method according claim 1, wherein the plastic component is furthermore dipped into a vat comprising an accelerator for hardening the outermost layer.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component is rotated at least in response to the introduction of medium and/or high-energy radiation.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the rotation can take place about one or a plurality of axes.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes a step of infiltrating the porous plastic component.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes a step of infiltrating the plastic component, which are produced by means of a three-dimensional print processes.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the medium is a monomer and the medium encompasses at least one part, which is from a same substance class as a plastic part of the plastic component;

wherein a provision is further made for a catalyst and/or a wetting agent;

wherein a provision is further made for a photo initiator and the photo initiator is provided in the medium; and

wherein the plastic component and the medium encompass a methacrylate.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method includes the step of removing excess medium by allowing the excess medium to drop off of the plastic component.

18. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method includes the step of securing the plastic component in a liquid-permeable bracket for dipping the plastic component and so that the plastic component is prevented from floating in the vat.

14. A method comprising:

a. assembling synthetic particles into a three-dimensional plastic component using a three-dimensional printing process or a laser sintering process;

b. controlling porosity of the three-dimensional plastic component during assembly of the synthetic particles;

c. introducing a medium into the three-dimensional plastic component after the step of assembling is complete so that the medium at least partially dissolves the three-dimensional plastic component;

d. solidifying an outermost layer of the plastic component by subjecting the outermost layer to UV radiation so that a geometry of the three-dimensional plastic component is not lost;

e. rotating the three-dimensional plastic component so that shadowed areas of the three-dimensional plastic component are solidified; and

f. solidifying an inner part of the three-dimensional plastic component after the outermost layer has begun solidification;

wherein polymerization occurs between the three-dimensional plastic component and the medium forming a homogenous compound in response to the solidification.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method includes the step of removing excess medium by allowing the excess medium to drip off of the three-dimensional plastic component.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of introducing a medium into the three-dimensional plastic component includes the steps of:

i. securing the three-dimensional plastic component in a liquid-permeable bracket for dipping the plastic component in a vat of the medium;

ii. attaching retainer clips or a weight on the liquid-permeable bracket so that the three-dimensional plastic component is prevented from floating

iii. dipping the three-dimensional plastic component in the vat of the medium.