Support material and applications thereof
View Patent ↗In one aspect, support materials operable for use in 3D printing systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a support material comprises a wax component comprising at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol and a viscosity modifying agent, wherein the support material is water dispersible. In some embodiments, the wax component comprises a mixture of at least one fatty alcohol and at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol.
1. A support material for use in a three-dimensional printing system comprising:
a wax component comprising at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol; and
a viscosity modifying component comprising at least one lactone, wherein the support material is water dispersible and wherein the lactone is at least partially polymerized.
2. The support material of claim 1 , wherein the wax component is present in an amount ranging from about 50 weight percent to about 95 weight percent.
3. The support material of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol has a formula CH 3 —(CH 2 ) m —(O—CH 2 —CH 2 —) n —OH, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 100 and m is an integer from 10 to 20.
4. The support material of claim 1 , wherein the wax component comprises a mixture of at least one fatty alcohol and at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol.
5. The support material of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity modifying component further comprises one or more ethoxylated fatty alcohols.
6. The support material of claim 1 having a melting point ranging from about 45° C. to about 70° C.
7. The support material of claim 1 having a melting point ranging from about 50° C. to about 65° C.
8. The support material of claim 1 having a freezing point ranging from about 47° C. to about 52° C.
9. The support material of claim 1 , wherein the support material is non-UV curable.
10. A support material for use in a three-dimensional printing system comprising:
a wax component comprising at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol; and
a viscosity modifying component comprising at least one lactone, wherein the support material is water dispersible and wherein the at least one lactone comprises α-acetolactone, β-propiolactone, γ-butyrolactone, δ-valerolactone or ε-caprolactone or mixtures thereof.
11. A support material for use in a three-dimensional printing system comprising:
a wax component comprising a plurality of ethoxylated fatty alcohols; and
a viscosity modifying component, wherein the support material is water dispersible and wherein the plurality of ethoxylated fatty alcohols comprise one or more ethoxylated fatty alcohols of the formula CH 3 —(CH 2 ) m —(O—CH 2 —CH 2 —) n —OH, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 100 and m is an integer from 10 to 20 , and a sorbitan monooctadecanoate poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl).
12. A support material for use in a three-dimensional printing system comprising:
a wax component comprising at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol;
a viscosity modifying component; and
a phase change agent comprising one or more polyurethane waxes,
wherein the support material is water dispersible.
13. The support material of claim 12 , wherein the phase change agent is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent.