A passivation device for passivating filter residues of a filter device arranged in a process gas circuit of an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a reaction unit having an inlet suitable for supplying an oxidant, a coupling unit adapted to be coupled to the filter device for introducing filter residues into the reaction unit, a discharge unit suitable for discharging passivated filter residues from the reaction unit, and an energy supply unit suitable for effecting a reaction between the filter residues and the oxidant in the reaction unit.

An additively manufactured (AM) object may include a body including an opening in an exterior surface thereof, the opening having a shape and a first area at the exterior surface of the body. A mask may be positioned over the opening. The mask has the shape of the opening and a second area that is larger than the first area so as to overhang the exterior surface of the body about the opening. A plurality of support ligaments couple to the mask and the exterior surface of the body at a location adjacent to the opening to support a portion of the mask. A coating can be applied to the object, and the mask removed. The final AM object includes a plurality of ligament elements extending from the exterior surface of the body and through the coating adjacent the opening, each ligament element at least partially surrounded by the coating.

A three-dimensional metallic foam is fabricated with an active oxide material for use as an anode for lithium batteries. The porous metal foam, which can be fabricated by a freeze-casting process, is used as the anode current collector of the lithium battery. The porous metal foam can be heat-treated to form an active oxide material to form on the surface of the metal foam. The oxide material acts as the three-dimensional active material that reacts with lithium ions during charging and discharging.

A method includes additively manufacturing an article in an inert environment, removing the article from the inert environment and placing the article in a non-inert environment, allowing at least a portion the article to oxidize in the non-inert environment to form an oxidized layer on a surface of the article, and removing the oxidized layer (e.g., to smooth the surface of the article). The method can further include relieving stress in the article (e.g., via heating the article after additive manufacturing).

A method includes additively manufacturing an article in an inert environment, removing the article from the inert environment and placing the article in a non-inert environment, allowing at least a portion the article to oxidize in the non-inert environment to form an oxidized layer on a surface of the article, and removing the oxidized layer (e.g., to smooth the surface of the article). The method can further include relieving stress in the article (e.g., via heating the article after additive manufacturing).

A method of producing a phosphate-coated SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder, the method including performing a phosphate treatment including adding an inorganic acid to a slurry containing a raw material SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder, water, a phosphate compound, and a rare earth compound so that the slurry is adjusted to have a pH of at least 1 and not higher than 4.5 to obtain a phosphate-coated SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder having a surface coated with a phosphate.

A method for gas atomization of a titanium alloy, nickel alloy, or other alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3)-forming alloy wherein the atomized particles are exposed as they solidify and cool in a very short time to multiple gaseous reactive agents for the in-situ formation of a passivation reaction film on the atomized particles wherein the reaction film retains a precursor halogen alloying element that is subsequently introduced into a microstructure formed by subsequent thermally processing of the atomized particles to improve oxidation resistance.

A method for gas atomization of a titanium alloy, nickel alloy, or other alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3)-forming alloy wherein the atomized particles are exposed as they solidify and cool in a very short time to multiple gaseous reactive agents for the in-situ formation of a passivation reaction film on the atomized particles wherein the reaction film retains a precursor halogen alloying element that is subsequently introduced into a microstructure formed by subsequent thermally processing of the atomized particles to improve oxidation resistance.

A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes an ejector having a nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a heating element configured to heat a solid metal in the ejector, thereby causing the solid metal to change to a liquid metal within the ejector. The 3D printer also includes a coil wrapped at least partially around the ejector. The 3D printer also includes a power source configured to supply one or more pulses of power to the coil, which cause one or more drops of the liquid metal to be jetted out of the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a substrate configured to support the one or more drops as the one or more drops solidify to form a 3D object. The 3D printer also includes a gas source configured to cause an oxygen concentration to be less than about 5% proximate to the one or more drops, the 3D object, or both.

A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes an ejector having a nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a heating element configured to heat a solid metal in the ejector, thereby causing the solid metal to change to a liquid metal within the ejector. The 3D printer also includes a coil wrapped at least partially around the ejector. The 3D printer also includes a power source configured to supply one or more pulses of power to the coil, which cause one or more drops of the liquid metal to be jetted out of the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a substrate configured to support the one or more drops as the one or more drops solidify to form a 3D object. The 3D printer also includes a gas source configured to cause an oxygen concentration to be less than about 5% proximate to the one or more drops, the 3D object, or both.