Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include ceramic nanoparticles that may be maintained in a stable form, providing a shelf-life suitable for transportation and storage of the ink in large-scale commercial operations. The ink may be delivered onto the powder of the metal particles in the powder bed, where the ceramic nanoparticles may interact with the metal particles to improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated. Also, or instead, the nanoparticles may reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects (e.g., slumping and shrinking and/or inadequate densification of the final part).

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include metal oxide nanoparticles and reducing agent nanoparticles in a stable form, providing a shelf-life suitable for transportation and storage of the ink in large-scale commercial operations. The ink may be delivered onto the powder of the metal particles in the powder bed, where the metal oxide nanoparticles and the reducing agent nanoparticles may interact with one another to form metal nanoparticles. In turn, the metal nanoparticles may interact with the metal particles in the powder bed to improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated and, also or instead, to reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, local densities of the powder of each layer may be determined and used as a basis for selectively distributing the ink including nanoparticles to increase density of one or more portions of the respective layer as compared to density of the respective portion of the layer prior to the selective distribution of the ink. Thus, the selective distribution of the ink including the nanoparticles may reduce density variations in each layer of three-dimensional objects being fabricated. In turn, such a reduction in density variation associated with the fabrication of three-dimensional objects may reduce the likelihood of defects (e.g., through unintended variations in shrinkage rates) associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include high aspect ratio nanoparticles, such as filaments. As compared to nanoparticles having lower aspect ratios, high aspect ratio nanoparticles may facilitate bridging more surface of the metal particles in the powder bed. As the three-dimensional objects including the high aspect ratio nanoparticles and the metal particles are thermally processed, the increased bridging associated with the high aspect ratio nanoparticles may result in increased bonded area between the nanoparticles and the metal particles and, thus, three-dimensional objects that are more robust with respect to subsequent processing required to form the three-dimensional objects into finished parts.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, metal particles in the powder bed may be coated with nanoparticles to facilitate achieving a substantially uniform distribution of nanoparticles relative to metal particles in the three-dimensional objects being formed in the powder bed. Through such a substantially uniform distribution, the nanoparticles and the metal particles may interact with one another in a predictable manner useful for reducing variations in three-dimensional objects being fabricated and, also or instead, useful for reducing the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include nanoparticles of an inorganic material (e.g., a metal) that undergoes at least one phase change as the three-dimensional objects are heated. This phase change may facilitate achieving more uniform distribution of the inorganic material relative to the metal particles in the three-dimensional objects which, in turn, may improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated. Further, or instead, improved distribution of the inorganic material may reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include a colloid of nanoparticles of an inorganic material (e.g., a metal) in a carrier, and the colloid may be destabilized along one or more sections of at least one layer. Destabilization of the colloid may aggregate the nanoparticles along at least one layer to facilitate, for example, formation of an interface layer useful for separating the three-dimensional objects from associated support structures. Further, or instead, the aggregated nanoparticles may be useful for hardening a given layer to facilitate uniform distribution of a subsequent layer on top of the given layer. Thus, more generally, aggregation of the nanoparticles along the powder be may be useful for improving quality of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of nanoparticles for improving fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through layer-by-layer delivery of an ink onto a powder of metal particles in a powder bed. More specifically, the ink may include a carrier, supramolecular assemblies of molecules, and nanoparticles of an inorganic material. The supramolecular assemblies may sequester the nanoparticles of the inorganic material from the carrier to facilitate maintaining the nanoparticles in a stable form, providing a shelf-life suitable for transportation and storage of the ink in large-scale commercial operations. The supramolecular assemblies of the molecules may be disrupted during a fabrication process to release the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may improve strength of the three-dimensional objects being fabricated and, also or instead, may reduce the likelihood of defects associated with subsequent processing of the three-dimensional objects (e.g., slumping and shrinking and/or inadequate densification of the final part).

The present invention relates to a polymer compound used as a polymer modifier, a conjugated diene-based polymer including a functional group derived therefrom, and a method for preparing a modified and conjugated diene-based polymer using the polymer compound. A rubber modifier compound obtained therefrom is used as a modifier for rubber, particularly, as a modifier of a conjugated diene-based polymer and is bonded to a chain of the conjugated diene-based polymer to easily introduce a functional group having affinity with a filler.

The present invention relates to a modifier useful for modifying a polymer, a method for preparing a modified and conjugated diene-based polymer using the same, and a modified and conjugated diene-based polymer prepared thereby. In the modified and conjugated diene-based polymer, a hydroxyl group and a silyl group are combined, and the affinity thereof with a silica-based filler may be excellent. Accordingly, a rubber composition including the modified and conjugated diene-based polymer may have excellent processability, and as a result, molded articles (for example, tires) manufactured from the rubber composition may have excellent tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and viscoelasticity properties.