Inks for 3D printing
In one aspect, inks for use with a three-dimensional printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, an ink described herein is a composite ink. Such a composite ink, in some cases, comprises an optically transparent or substantially transparent carrier ink comprising a curable material; and a colorant dispersed in the carrier ink in an amount of about 0.01 to 5 weight %, based on the total weight of the composite ink.
1. A method of printing a three-dimensional article comprising:
selectively depositing layers of a composite ink in a fluid state onto a substrate,
wherein the composite ink comprises an optically transparent or substantially transparent carrier ink comprising a curable material; and a colorant dispersed in the carrier ink in an amount of 0.01 to 5 weight %, based on the total weight of the composite ink,
wherein a chroma of the composite ink at a given thickness of the composite ink is within 20% of a maximum chroma of the colorant in the composite ink, and
wherein the carrier ink has an optical transparency of at least 80% transmission between 350 nm and 750 nm at a thickness of 0.01 to 10 mm.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the layers of the composite ink have a thickness of about 0.03 to about 5 mm.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the layers of the composite ink are deposited according to an image of the three-dimensional article in a computer readable format.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising curing the layers of the composite ink.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a particulate pigment.