US 12,214,544 B2
In situ chemical modification during additive manufacturing
Donald Benza, Aiken, SC (US); Aaron Washington, Martinez, GA (US); Jonathan Baker, Aiken, SC (US); Camden A. Chatham, Aiken, SC (US); and Adrian Mistreanu, Wilmington, NC (US)
Assigned to Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC, Aiken, SC (US)
Filed by BATTELLE SAVANNAH RIVER ALLIANCE, LLC, Aiken, SC (US)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/869,451.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025108 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/00 (2017.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B29C 64/364 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); B29C 64/364 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing method comprising:
depositing a first build material from a first deposition nozzle to a surface to form a first layer having a first layer depth, the depositing taking place in a deposition chamber that contains an atmosphere comprising a pressure that is increased above atmospheric pressure by about 7 kilopascal or more;
contacting the first layer with a reactive agent, wherein upon the contact, the reactive agent causes a modification to a chemical structure of a polymer of the first build material, the modification being carried out from a surface of the first layer to a depth of about 300 nm or more of the first layer depth, the modification extending through only a portion of the first layer such that the first layer exhibits a gradation of the modification across the first layer depth, wherein the reactive agent comprises a gas phase reactive agent.