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;
a viscosity modifying component; and
a phase change agent operable to accelerate the freezing of the support material when the support material is deposited in the three-dimensional printing system,
wherein the phase change agent comprises a urethane wax that freezes or solidifies over a range of 1° C. to 3° C., and
wherein the support material is water dispersible following deposition of the support material in the three-dimensional printing system.
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 plurality of the ethoxylated fatty alcohols.
5. 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.
6. The support material of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity modifying component comprises one or more ethoxylated fatty alcohols.
7. The support material of claim 6 , wherein an ethoxylated fatty alcohol of the viscosity modifying component 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.
8. The support material of claim 6 , wherein the viscosity modifying component further comprises at least one lactone.
9. The support material of claim 1 having a melting point ranging from about 45° C. to about 70° C.
10. The support material of claim 1 having a melting point ranging from about 50° C. to about 65° C.
11. The support material of claim 1 having a freezing point ranging from about 47° C. to about 52° C.
12. The support material of claim 1 , wherein the support material is non-UV curable.