An aluminum alloy powder for laser laminated manufacturing includes Si: 2.0-4.5 wt %; Mg: 0.1-1.3 wt %; Fe: 0.07-0.65 wt %; Cu: 0.35 wt % or less; Cr: 0.02-0.32 wt %; Zn: 0.23 wt % or less; Ti: 0.23 wt % or less; Mn: 0.13 wt % or less; and the rest is aluminum. The aluminum alloy powder further includes inevitable impurities.

In various embodiments, a water-based binder solution for use in additive manufacturing, includes a thermoplastic binder. The thermoplastic binder includes a first polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 15,000 g/mol, a second polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 50,000 g/mol, and a third polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 5,000 g/mol. The binder solution further comprises from greater than or equal to 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 5 wt % of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point of greater than 100° C.

In various embodiments, a water-based binder solution for use in additive manufacturing, includes a thermoplastic binder. The thermoplastic binder includes a first polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from greater than or equal to 5,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 15,000 g/mol, a second polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 10,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 50,000 g/mol, and a third polymer strand having a weight average molecular weight of from greater than or equal to 1,000 g/mol to less than or equal to 5,000 g/mol. The binder solution further comprises from greater than or equal to 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 5 wt % of a non-aqueous solvent having a boiling point of greater than 100° C.

A defect detection method includes: a step of irradiating an object with a pulsed laser beam to continuously generate ultrasonic waves in the object; and a step of detecting the presence or absence of an internal defect of the object on the basis of the presence or absence of resonance of the ultrasonic waves occurring between a surface of the object and the internal defect. In this method, the internal defect is detected on the basis of the presence or absence of resonance of the ultrasonic waves occurring between the surface of the object and the internal defect. The internal defect can be thus detected even when the internal defect is in a surface layer of the object. The detected internal defect is crack or void.

A defect detection method includes: a step of irradiating an object with a pulsed laser beam to continuously generate ultrasonic waves in the object; and a step of detecting the presence or absence of an internal defect of the object on the basis of the presence or absence of resonance of the ultrasonic waves occurring between a surface of the object and the internal defect. In this method, the internal defect is detected on the basis of the presence or absence of resonance of the ultrasonic waves occurring between the surface of the object and the internal defect. The internal defect can be thus detected even when the internal defect is in a surface layer of the object. The detected internal defect is crack or void.

The devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are directed to powder spreading and binder distribution techniques for consistent and rapid layer-by-layer fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through binder jetting. For example, a powder may be spread to form a layer along a volume defined by a powder box, a binder may be deposited along the layer to form a layer of a three-dimensional object, and the direction of spreading the layer and depositing the binder may be in a first direction and in a second direction, different from the first direction, thus facilitating rapid formation of the three-dimensional object with each passage of the print carriage over the volume. Powder delivery, powder spreading, thermal energy delivery, and combinations thereof, may facilitate consistently achieving quality standards as the rate of fabrication of the three-dimensional object is increased.

An apparatus and process for creating uniformly sized, spherical nanoparticles from a solid target. The solid target surface is ablated to create an ejecta event containing nanoparticles moving away from the surface. Ablation may be caused by laser or electrostatic discharge. At least one electromagnetic field is placed in front of the solid target surface being ablated. The electromagnetic field manipulates at least a portion of the nanoparticles as they move away from the target surface through the electromagnetic field to increase size and spherical shape uniformity of the nanoparticles. The manipulated nanoparticles are collected.

An apparatus and process for creating uniformly sized, spherical nanoparticles from a solid target. The solid target surface is ablated to create an ejecta event containing nanoparticles moving away from the surface. Ablation may be caused by laser or electrostatic discharge. At least one electromagnetic field is placed in front of the solid target surface being ablated. The electromagnetic field manipulates at least a portion of the nanoparticles as they move away from the target surface through the electromagnetic field to increase size and spherical shape uniformity of the nanoparticles. The manipulated nanoparticles are collected.

The present disclosure provides for metal nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles that have six pointed areas so that the metal nanoparticle resembles a six-pointed star. The distance from opposing points of the six-pointed star is about 400 to 480 nanometers. The present disclosure also provides for a method of making the nanoparticle, where in an aspect, the method is a light-driven synthesis.

Provided herein are systems, apparatuses and methods for monitoring a three-dimensional printing process. The three-dimensional printing process can be monitored in-situ and/or in real time. Monitoring of the three-dimensional printing process can be non-invasive. A computer control system can be coupled to one or more detectors and signal processing units to adjust the generation of a three-dimensional object that is formed by the three-dimensional printing.