Binder formulation that prevents cracking during 3D-printed
This technology improves 3D printing of metal, ceramic, and alloy parts by adding nanoparticles to the liquid that binds each layer of powder together. The nanoparticles act as microscopic bridges between powder grains, giving the printed part enough structural integrity to survive the critical heating phase where the initial binder burns away but full sintering hasn't yet begun — a window that normally causes parts to collapse or warp. The result is stronger, denser intermediate parts ('green parts') that yield higher-quality finished components after final heat treatment. This is essentially a process improvement to powder-bed 3D printing, applicable to a wide range of industrial materials.
What you could build
A licensed ink or binder-jetting fluid formulation sold to industrial 3D printer manufacturers or aerospace/defense parts suppliers producing high-performance metal and ceramic components; buyers include additive manufacturing OEMs like Desktop Metal or ExOne, and tier-1 aerospace suppliers.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense contractors and aerospace suppliers in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads corridor (e.g., suppliers to Navy shipbuilding or NASA Langley) using metal additive manufacturing for high-tolerance components would be natural partners or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- John A. Bai, Kevin D. Creehan, Howard A. Kuhn
- Granted
- August 7, 2018
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10040216
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.