US 12,409,601 B2
Methods and apparatuses for solvent-assisted polymer direct printing in air
Yong Huang, Gainesville, FL (US); Marc Sole Gras, Gainesville, FL (US); and Bing Ren, Gainesville, FL (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED, Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED, Gainesville, FL (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/232,569.
Application 18/232,569 is a division of application No. 16/781,336, filed on Feb. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,759,999.
Prior Publication US 2024/0208137 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/112 (2017.01); B29C 64/30 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/112 (2017.08) [B29C 64/30 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for three-dimensional printing of an article, the method comprising:
dispensing a liquid build material into an air-filled print space,
wherein the liquid build material comprises a polymerizable material at least partially dissolved in a solvent; and
spraying a nebulized coagulation agent stream to within a predetermined distance in the air-filled print space of the liquid build material dispensed within the air-filled print space,
wherein the nebulized coagulation agent stream comprises a nebulized coagulation agent suspended in a carrier fluid comprising air,
wherein the nebulized coagulation agent has a preferential affinity to the solvent that is higher than a lesser affinity to the polymerizable material, and
wherein, the spraying the nebulized coagulation agent stream into the air-filled print space to within the predetermined distance of the liquid build material causes the polymerizable material in the liquid build material to at least partially coagulate out of the liquid build material.