Described herein are lubricant compositions that include combinations of lubricant additives that are effective at improving the surface finish of a range of manufactured materials and equipment. In particular, friction modifiers and antiwear additives are employed to decrease surface roughness of additive manufactured (AM), e.g., 3D printed, materials and equipment in concert with maximizing energy efficiency.

A process for coating particles of an expanded thermoplastic elastomer involves a1) bringing the particles into contact with a water-based binder, resulting in at least partly coated particles, and a2) drying the coated particles. A process for the preparation of a shaped body involves b) coating the particles of the expanded thermoplastic elastomer, wherein before a2) the particles are brought into the shape of the shaped body, or wherein after a2) the particles are brought into the shape of the shaped body and contacted with a solvent, preferably a water-based solvent, or by subjecting the particles to heat. A shaped body is obtainable by such processes. A water-based binder is useful for the preparation of a shaped body, wherein the shaped body is formed by particles of an expanded thermoplastic elastomer and wherein the particles are at least partly coated with the water-based binder.

Disclosed is a Transparent Dental Alignment Device and a manufacturing method for the Transparent Dental Alignment Device. The disclosed manufacturing method for the Transparent Dental Alignment Device includes the steps: 3D printing the dental alignment device using a composition for forming transparent dental alignment devices as the raw material (S10); Removing uncured resin and liquid from the dental alignment device obtained in step S10 (S20); Post-curing the dental alignment device obtained in step S20 (S30); Post heat treatment of the dental alignment device obtained in step S30 (S40); Cleaning the dental alignment device obtained in step S40 (S50).

In a method for the chemical smoothing of components composed of plastic, said components are immersed at atmospheric pressure in a pre-temperature- controlled process liquid composed of glycol.

A method is provided for treating a surface of a molded part produced in a 3D printing method. In the method, the molded part is introduced into a pressure-tight container, negative pressure, preferably a vacuum to a large extent, is generated in the container after introducing the molded part, a solvent is heated up to a specified solvent temperature, and the heated solvent is introduced from a solvent container into the container under negative pressure. In such a method, the temperature of the molded part is lower than the solvent temperature, and the solvent is evaporated or is introduced as a vapor upon being introduced, the solvent vapor condensing on the surface of the molded part. Also provided is a device for carrying out the method.

A method is provided for treating a surface of a molded part produced in a 3D printing method. In the method, the molded part is introduced into a pressure-tight container (20), negative pressure, preferably a vacuum to a large extent, is generated in the container after introducing the molded part, a solvent is heated up to a specified solvent temperature, and the heated solvent is introduced from a solvent container (40) into the container under negative pressure. In such a method, the temperature of the molded part is lower than the solvent temperature, and the solvent is evaporated or is introduced as a vapor upon being introduced, the solvent vapor condensing on the surface of the molded part. Also provided is a device for carrying out the method.

A method is described in which a part is placed within a chamber. Vaporized solvent is provided within the chamber such that the solvent condenses onto and treats the part. A vacuum is then applied to the chamber to extract the solvent and stop the treatment. The vacuum is controlled such that a pressure within the chamber over time has a predefined profile to prevent defects in the part from occurring due to the extraction of solvent from the part.

A process to cure and/or modify the surface of a three dimensional (3D) printed part comprising the steps of immersing a three dimensional (3D) printed part, containing reactive moieties, into a liquid bath at an elevated temperature to effect polymerization of the reactive moieties of the 3D printed part to provide a cured 3D printed part is described. The liquid bath can further contain reactive molecules that can react with the surface of the 3D printed part to provide a coating which alters the surface characteristics of the 3D printed part.

The present application relates to components, such as dental apparatuses, having geometrical features to facilitate post-fabrication cleaning, including methods of fabricating the same. In one embodiment, a dental apparatus comprises one or more concave surfaces that are configured to engage a dental arch of a patient, and at least one aperture located at and formed through the one or more concave surfaces.

An apparatus (200) for smoothing a surface of an object (100). The apparatus includes a chamber (210), a reservoir (324) configured to hold a liquid (322), and a nebulizer assembly (212) configured to generate a mist (104) from the liquid into the chamber. The nebulizer assembly includes a mesh (732), a vibrating element (731), and a wick (736). The object is received in the chamber and the mist is configured to surround the object.