Patent US5510226A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5510226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Stereolithography using vinyl ether-epoxide polymers
Assignee: 3D Systems Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-20
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Granted: 1996-04-23
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Expires: 2014-04-20
Abstract
Abstract Polymer precursor formulations suitable for stereolithography may be prepared from compositions containing vinyl ether functionalized compounds and epoxy functionalized compounds plus an effective amount of a cationic photoinitiator.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C. Lapin
- 👤 James R. Snyder
- 👤 Eugene V. Sitzmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:13
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G59/00; C08G59/18; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y70/00; C08G59/68; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/0037; G03F7/004; G03F7/027; G03F7/038; G03F7/0385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In the process for forming a three-dimensional object from a liquid polymer precursor comprising repeatedly exposing the surface of a bath of said precursor to a beam of actinic light to solidify successive layers of said precursor to make a green structure followed by postcuring of said green structure the improvement comprising employing as said liquid polymer precursor the composition consisting essentially of (a) at least one multifunctional vinyl ether compound; (b) at least one multifunctional epoxy compound; (c) an effective amount of a cationic photoinitiator; said vinyl ether compounds and epoxy compounds both being curable by acids released by said photoinitiator and having proportions of (a), (b), and (c) selected to provide a polymeric structure having suitable green strength with minimal curl distortion when said composition is polymerized by an actinic light source selected from the group consisting of UV and visible light lasers, the proportions of said vinyl ether compounds and epoxides being defined by the formula M=F/E where M is the vinyl ether equivalent weight of the composition and between 150 and 800 F is the total weight in grams of the composition, and E is the number of vinyl ether equivalents in the composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In the process for forming a three-dimensional object from a liquid polymer precursor comprising repeatedly exposing the surface of a bath of said precursor to a beam of actinic light to solidify successive layers of said precursor to make a green structure followed by postcuring of said green structure the improvement comprising employing as said liquid polymer precursor the composition consisting essentially of (a) at least one multifunctional vinyl ether compound; (b) at least one multifunctional epoxy compound; (c) an effective amount of a cationic photoinitiator; said vinyl ether compounds and epoxy compounds both being curable by acids released by said photoinitiator and having proportions of (a), (b), and (c) selected to provide a polymeric structure having suitable green strength with minimal curl distortion when said composition is polymerized by an actinic light source selected from the group consisting of UV and visible light lasers, the proportions of said vinyl ether compounds and epoxides being defined by the formula M=F/E where M is the vinyl ether equivalent weight of the composition and between 150 and 800 F is the total weight in grams of the composition, and E is the number of vinyl ether equivalents in the composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said actinic light is ultraviolet light produced by a helium/cadmium laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said actinic light is ultraviolet light produced by an argon ion laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said actinic light is visible light produced by an argon ion laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said three-dimensional object is postcured.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said postcuring is provided by heating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein M is between 250 and 450.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the viscosity of said polymer precursor composition is between 50 and 50000 mPa.s.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the viscosity of said polymer precursor composition is between 50 and 5000 mPa.s.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said vinyl ether compounds have a functionality of 2 or more.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said epoxy compounds have a functionality of 2 or more.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said vinyl ether compounds are derived from at least one member of the group consisting of urethanes, phenols, esters, ethers, siloxanes, and aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether has the formula ##STR10## wherein x is 2 or 4 y is 2 or 3.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether has the formula ##STR11## where y is 2.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether has the formula ##STR12## where x is 2, 3, or 4 y is 2 or 4.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether compound has the formula ##STR13## where x is 2, 3, or 4.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether compound has the formula ##STR14##
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether compound has the formula CH.sub.2 ═CH--O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O).sub.x --CH═CH.sub.2 where x is 2, 3, or 4.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether compound has the formula ##STR15## where x is 2, 3, or 4.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether compound has the formula CH.sub.3 --CH.sub.2 --C(CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O--CH═CH.sub.2).sub.3
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether compound has the formula ##STR16##
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 12 wherein at least one vinyl ether compound has the formula ##STR17## where R is H or CH 3 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said epoxy compounds are derived from at least one member of the group consisting of phenols, novolacs, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyols, and polyether polyols.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said epoxide is a glycidyl ether of bisphenol A.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said cationic photoinitiator is an onium salt of Group V, VI, and VII elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 25 wherein said cationic photoinitiator is based on an iodonium or sulfonium salt.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said cationic photoinitiator is a triaryl sulfonium salt of hexafluorophosphate or hexafluoroantimony.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said cationic photoinitiator is ##STR18## and y is 1 to 18.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said photoinitiator is ##STR19## and y is 1 to 18.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said photoinitiator is at least one member of the group consisting of ##STR20##
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claims 28, 29, or 30 wherein X - is hexafluorophosphate or hexafluoroantimony.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the photoinitiator is activated by a photosensitizer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 26 wherein at least one vinyl ether has the formula ##STR21##
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-23 | 1999-10-23 | 2000-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-23 | 2003-10-23 | 2004-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-23 | 2007-10-23 | 2008-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |