US 12,459,194 B2
Freeform polymer precipitation (FPP) in microparticulate gels
Michinao Hashimoto, Singapore (SG); and Rahul Karyappa, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore (SG)
Appl. No. 18/256,544
Filed by Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore (SG)
PCT Filed Dec. 10, 2021, PCT No. PCT/SG2021/050784
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 8, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/124997, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10202012429U (SG), filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0092011 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/106 (2017.01); B29C 64/40 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); C09D 11/033 (2014.01); C09D 11/10 (2014.01); C09D 11/54 (2014.01); B29K 1/00 (2006.01); B29K 25/00 (2006.01); B29K 55/02 (2006.01); B29K 67/00 (2006.01); B29K 77/00 (2006.01); B29K 401/00 (2006.01); B29K 503/08 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/106 (2017.08) [C09D 11/033 (2013.01); C09D 11/10 (2013.01); C09D 11/54 (2013.01); B29K 2001/08 (2013.01); B29K 2001/12 (2013.01); B29K 2001/14 (2013.01); B29K 2023/06 (2013.01); B29K 2025/06 (2013.01); B29K 2055/02 (2013.01); B29K 2067/00 (2013.01); B29K 2067/046 (2013.01); B29K 2077/00 (2013.01); B29K 2401/00 (2013.01); B29K 2403/00 (2013.01); B29K 2503/08 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of printing a 3D freeform structure in an embedding medium, the method comprising:
providing an ink composition in a nozzle, wherein the ink composition comprises a thermoplastic, a non-thermoplastic, a thermally degradable polymer, and/or a thermosensitive polymer, dissolved in a solvent;
dispensing the ink composition through the nozzle into the embedding medium as the nozzle is moved along a path in the embedding medium to precipitate a printed structure along the path from the ink composition by immersion precipitation, wherein the ink composition exits from the nozzle directly in the embedding medium; and
maintaining the printed structure in the embedding medium until the immersion precipitation is completed for forming the 3D freeform structure,
wherein the embedding medium is a microparticulate non-Newtonian gel for providing physical support to the printed structure and is a nonsolvent for in situ solidification of the ink composition dispensed from the nozzle along the path in the embedding medium by the immersion precipitation.