In various embodiments, a microreactor features a corrosion-resistant microchannel network encased within a thermally conductive matrix material that may define therewithin one or more hollow heat-exchange conduits.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally formed object includes: forming a layer using a flowable composition including constituent material particles of a three-dimensionally formed object and a flowable composition including support portion-forming particles for forming a support portion which supports the three-dimensionally formed object during the formation of the three-dimensionally formed object; and imparting energy to the constituent material particles and the support portion-forming particles, in which in the imparting of the energy, the energy is imparted such that a temperature of the constituent material particles and a temperature of the support portion-forming particles are equal to or higher than a melting point of the constituent material particles and are lower than a melting point of the support portion-forming particles.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally formed object includes: forming a layer using a flowable composition including constituent material particles of a three-dimensionally formed object and a flowable composition including support portion-forming particles for forming a support portion which supports the three-dimensionally formed object during the formation of the three-dimensionally formed object; and imparting energy to the constituent material particles and the support portion-forming particles, in which in the imparting of the energy, the energy is imparted such that a temperature of the constituent material particles and a temperature of the support portion-forming particles are equal to or higher than a melting point of the constituent material particles and are lower than a melting point of the support portion-forming particles.

Ti ink compositions for printing, such as ink jet printing, are disclosed. The ink compositions comprise a liquid dispersion of Ti hydride powder having a mean particle size of less than 10.0 microns; a liquid carrier, and at least one surfactant. Methods of making and using the disclosed inks are also disclosed. For example, a finished Ti product can be produced by printing the disclosed ink composition, such as by ink jet printing, to form a green article, heating the green article to dehydrogenate it and form a Ti containing part. The method may further comprise sintering the Ti containing part to produce a sintered Ti product. In an embodiment, the method comprises printing one or more support materials for the ink composition, that comprises solid particles of a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a polymer, or combinations thereof.

Ti ink compositions for printing, such as ink jet printing, are disclosed. The ink compositions comprise a liquid dispersion of Ti hydride powder having a mean particle size of less than 10.0 microns; a liquid carrier, and at least one surfactant. Methods of making and using the disclosed inks are also disclosed. For example, a finished Ti product can be produced by printing the disclosed ink composition, such as by ink jet printing, to form a green article, heating the green article to dehydrogenate it and form a Ti containing part. The method may further comprise sintering the Ti containing part to produce a sintered Ti product. In an embodiment, the method comprises printing one or more support materials for the ink composition, that comprises solid particles of a metal oxide, a metal carbide, a metal nitride, a polymer, or combinations thereof.

A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing section that forms a plasticized material, a flow channel for the plasticized material, a nozzle having an ejection port, from which the plasticized material is ejected to a shaping region, a position changing mechanism that changes a relative position of the nozzle to the table, a pressure measurement section that measures a pressure in the flow channel, and a cleaning mechanism that is provided in a cleaning region different from the shaping region and cleans the ejection port, wherein a cleaning process for causing the cleaning mechanism to perform cleaning by suspending a shaping process in the middle of the shaping process, and moving the nozzle to the cleaning region is executed, and the shaping process is resumed when the pressure is measured to be a reference value or less by the pressure measurement section after executing the cleaning process.

A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing section that forms a plasticized material, a flow channel for the plasticized material, a nozzle having an ejection port, from which the plasticized material is ejected to a shaping region, a position changing mechanism that changes a relative position of the nozzle to the table, a pressure measurement section that measures a pressure in the flow channel, and a cleaning mechanism that is provided in a cleaning region different from the shaping region and cleans the ejection port, wherein a cleaning process for causing the cleaning mechanism to perform cleaning by suspending a shaping process in the middle of the shaping process, and moving the nozzle to the cleaning region is executed, and the shaping process is resumed when the pressure is measured to be a reference value or less by the pressure measurement section after executing the cleaning process.

This disclosure, and the exemplary embodiments provided herein, disclose carbon nanotubes (CNT) integrated into 316L stainless steel (SS) powder feedstocks and 3D-printed using selective laser melting (SLM). Ball milling is used to disperse CNT clusters homogeneously onto the surface of 316L SS powders with minimal damage to the CNTs. Hardness increased by 35% and wear was reduced by 70% with the addition of 2 vol % CNT, relative to SLM 316L SS. The addition of CNTs increased the water contact angle and retained the desirable corrosion resistance of SLM 316L SS, demonstrating the potential of 3D-printed SS-CNT composites for use in structural marine applications.

This disclosure, and the exemplary embodiments provided herein, disclose carbon nanotubes (CNT) integrated into 316L stainless steel (SS) powder feedstocks and 3D-printed using selective laser melting (SLM). Ball milling is used to disperse CNT clusters homogeneously onto the surface of 316L SS powders with minimal damage to the CNTs. Hardness increased by 35% and wear was reduced by 70% with the addition of 2 vol % CNT, relative to SLM 316L SS. The addition of CNTs increased the water contact angle and retained the desirable corrosion resistance of SLM 316L SS, demonstrating the potential of 3D-printed SS-CNT composites for use in structural marine applications.

The invention relates to a manufacturing system including a holder suitable to hold first particles of a first powder in proximity to one another, and a connection scheme which, when employed, connects the first particles to one another to form a part.