THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
A three-dimensional (3D) printing build material composition includes polyamide particles and a filler material consisting of aramid fibers having an aspect ratio ranging from about 0.1 mm/20 μm to about 1.2 mm/16 μm. The polyamide particles are present in an amount of at least 82 wt % based on a total weight of the build material composition, and the aramid fibers are present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 18 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition.
1 . A three-dimensional (3D) printing build material composition, comprising:
polyamide particles present in an amount of at least 82 wt % based on a total weight of the build material composition; and
a filler material consisting of aramid fibers having an average aspect ratio ranging from about 0.1 mm/20 μm to about 1.2 mm/16 μm, the aramid fibers present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 18 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition.
2 . The 3D printing build material composition as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a flow aid present in an amount up to 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition.
3 . The 3D printing build material composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the average aspect ratio of the aramid fibers ranges from about 0.5 mm/20 μm to about 0.55 mm/16 μm, and the aramid fibers are present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 14 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition.
4 . The 3D printing build material composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the average aspect ratio of the aramid fibers ranges from about 0.7 mm/20 μm to about 0.85 mm/16 μm, and the aramid fibers are present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 10 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition.
5 . The 3D printing build material composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the average aspect ratio of the aramid fibers ranges from about 1.1 mm/20 μm to about 1.2 mm/16 μm, and the aramid fibers are present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 4 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition.
6 . The 3D printing build material composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the polyamide particles are present in an amount up to about 98 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition.
7 . A three-dimensional (3D) printed article, comprising:
coalesced build material, including:
polyamide particles present in an amount of at least 80 wt % based on a total weight of the 3D printed article; and
a filler material consisting of aramid fibers having an average aspect ratio ranging from about 0.1 mm/20 μm to about 1.2 mm/16 μm, the aramid fibers present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % to about 18 wt % based on the total weight of the 3D printed article.
8 . The 3D printed article as defined in claim 7 , wherein the coalesced build material further includes a flow aid present in an amount up to 0.2 wt % based on the total weight of the 3D printed article.
9 . The 3D printed article as defined in claim 7 , further comprising a coloring agent applied on an exterior of the 3D printed article or incorporated into at least a portion of the coalesced build material, the coloring agent being selected from the group consisting of a black agent, a cyan agent, a magenta agent, and a yellow agent.
10 . The 3D printed article as defined in claim 7 , further comprising an energy absorber intermingled with the coalesced build material, wherein the energy absorber:
exhibits absorption at least at some wavelengths within a range of from 100 nm to 4000 nm; or
exhibits absorption at wavelengths ranging from 100 nm to 400 nm or 800 nm to 4000 nm and has transparency at wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 780 nm.
11 . A three-dimensional (3D) printing method, comprising:
spreading a build material composition to form a build material layer, the build material composition including:
polyamide particles present in an amount of at least 82 wt % based on a total weight of the build material composition; and
a filler material consisting of aramid fibers having an average aspect ratio ranging from about 0.1 mm/20 μm to about 1.2 mm/16 μm, the aramid fibers present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 18 wt % based on the total weight of the build material composition; and
coalescing at least some of the build material composition in the build material layer by:
i) based on data derived from a digital 3D object model, selectively applying a fusing agent on at least a portion of the build material layer; and
exposing the build material layer to electromagnetic radiation to coalesce the build material composition in the at least the portion, thereby forming a layer of a 3D object; or
ii) based on data derived from a digital 3D object model, selectively exposing the at least some of the build material composition in the build material layer to a laser beam.
12 . The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein prior to spreading, the method further comprises applying the build material composition to a build area platform having an X-Y plane.
13 . The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the spreading is performed in a Y-direction of the X-Y plane.
14 . The method as defined in claim 13 , wherein a load-bearing direction of a 3D object being printed extends along the Y-direction.
15 . The method as defined in claim 11 , further comprising:
iteratively applying individual build material layers of the build material composition; and
iteratively coalescing at least some of the build material composition in each of the build material layers.