Gradient refractive index lenses (GRI-Ls) and methods of fabricating the same are provided. GRI-Ls can be fabricated by stereolithography (SLA) and/or photo-assisted, thermal-assisted, and/or other laser-based curing from at least two precursors with a preset refractive index gradation along the planar axis. These lenses are self-focusing lenses and may be convergent or divergent for decreasing and increasing refractive indices from the center, respectively. Rather than a gradation in lens thickness from the center, the GRI-Ls can have a gradation of composition from the center.

A 3D printed proppant includes a core having support bars extending from the core to a shell, the shell encapsulating the core and the support bars. Another 3D printed proppant includes a porous core and a shell encapsulating the porous core, where the porous core has a porosity from 25% to 75%. The 3D printed proppant has a particle size from 8 mesh to 140 mesh. The core, the support bars, the porous core, the shell, or combinations thereof includes metal, polymer, ceramic, composite, or combinations thereof. Additionally, a method for producing a 3D printed proppant is provided.

In an example of a three-dimensional (3D) printing method, a ceramic build material is applied. A detailing agent fluid is applied to a portion of the ceramic build material. The detailing agent fluid includes a cationic polymer. A liquid functional material, including an anionically stabilized susceptor material, is applied to another portion of the ceramic build material that is in contact with the portion of the ceramic build material having the detailing agent fluid thereon, such that at least some of the anionically stabilized susceptor material reacts with at least some of the cationic polymer that is in contact therewith to prevent spreading of the anionically stabilized susceptor material.

The invention relates to a method and a plant for the continuous production of engineered stone slabs. In the method, raw materials comprising at least one mineral filler and one organic binder are mixed, applied to a lower belt of a dual-belt press, or a conveying means mounted upstream of the lower belt, and subsequently continuously pressed, and the binder is cured. A continuously-obtained material strand is separated into individual engineered stone slabs. It is provided that the mixing operation of the raw materials is carried out at staggered times in a batch mixing operation by means of at least two separate mixing devices. The mixed raw materials from the mixing devices are transferred into one, or multiple, spreading device(s) at staggered times and are applied continuously and without interruption to the lower belt, or the conveying means mounted upstream of the lower belt, by means of the spreading device(s).

A procedure for the production of slabs made of mineral grits bound with resins comprises at least the phases of supplying one basic mixture including mineral grits and resins; dispensing the basic mixture over a molding support so as to obtain a slab to be compacted provided with an exposed surface facing upwards and a laying surface facing downwards; compacting the slab to be compacted to obtain a compacted slab; and hardening the compacted slab to obtain a slab made of mineral grits; at least one decoration with ink by digital printing of at least the basic mixture carried out prior to the compaction, wherein the decoration phase includes at least one phase of pre-decoration by digital printing which is carried out prior to the dispensing and at least one phase of post-decoration by digital printing which is carried out after the dispensing.

A composition can comprise particles comprising 5% by weight (wt %) or more, a photo-initiator, a curing agent, a dispersant, and an organic binder. The composition can be substantially solvent-free. In some embodiments, particles comprise 65 wt % or more. In some embodiments, the curing agent comprises dipropylene-glycol diacrylate. In some embodiments, the dispersant comprises a phosphate ester. In some embodiments, the organic binder comprises isobornyl methacrylate. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a viscosity from about 100 milliPascal-seconds to about 7,000 milliPascal-seconds. Methods of making a green body can comprise creating a composition, printing the green body using the composition, and curing the green body. Method of making a printed article can comprise creating a composition, printing a green body using the composition, curing the green body, heating the green body to remove the organic binder to form a porous article, and sintering the porous article to form the printed article.

A ceramic subassembly manufactured by a 3D-printing process is described. The ceramic subassembly comprises a ceramic substrate having a sidewall extending to spaced apart first and second end surfaces. At least one via extends through the substrate from the ceramic substrate first end surface to the ceramic substrate second end surface. In cross-section, the via has a square-shape with rounded corners.

A system for applying a building material, including: a movement device for modifying a site of application in a space; a first component of the building material; a second component of the building material; a mixer for mixing the first component and the second component, the mixer including a drive module with a first coupling element and a mixing chamber module with a second coupling element, the drive module and the mixing chamber module being detachably embodied, and the drive module and the mixing chamber module being actively interconnected in an application state of the system by means of the coupling elements.

A method of forming a ceramic matrix composite component with cooling channels includes embedding a plurality of wires into a preform structure, densifying the preform structure with embedded wires, and removing the plurality of wires to create a plurality of corresponding channels within the densified structure.

The present invention discloses a construction method for a spatial aggregate reinforced 3D printed concrete structure, including: selecting a structural member, performing mechanical analysis, and determining a basic dosage and a printing and weaving process of an implanted reinforcement or braided rope/wire material, determining a type, positioning and dosage of a spatial aggregate, preparing 3D printing materials, editing an electromagnetic signal and positioning push program of the spatial rigid aggregate according to the selected positioning and dosage of the spatial rigid aggregate, the 3D printing material is extruded along the printing and weaving process and while the reinforcement is implanted or the rope/wire is woven into the space, the spatial rigid aggregate is evenly scattered, and realizing the connection between spatial aggregates and the connection between the spatial aggregates and the reinforcements or ropes/wires respectively, a spatial aggregate reinforced 3D printed concrete structure is formed at one time after layer-by-layer construction, superimposed and hardened, or after segmented printing, component nodes can be connected through lap design of preset tenon and mortise and reinforcement or rope/wire to form the spatial aggregate reinforced 3D printed concrete structure. The construction method a form continuous reinforced spatial aggregates, effectively improve the mechanical performance of the concrete structure space, and improve the tensile strength and crack resistance of the concrete structure space.