Described herein are compositions, methods, and systems for printing metal three-dimensional objects. In an example, described is a method of printing a three-dimensional object comprising: (i) depositing a metal powder build material, wherein the metal powder build material has an average particle size of from about 10 μm to about 250 μm; (ii) selectively applying a binder fluid on at least a portion of the metal powder build material, wherein the binder fluid comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle and latex polymer particles dispersed in the aqueous liquid vehicle; (iii) heating the selectively applied binder fluid on the metal powder build material to a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 180° C.; and (iv) repeating (i), (ii), and (iii) at least one time to form the three-dimensional object.

Described herein are compositions, methods, and systems for printing metal three-dimensional objects. In an example, described is a method of printing a three-dimensional object comprising: (i) depositing a metal powder build material, wherein the metal powder build material has an average particle size of from about 10 μm to about 250 μm; (ii) selectively applying a binder fluid on at least a portion of the metal powder build material, wherein the binder fluid comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle and latex polymer particles dispersed in the aqueous liquid vehicle; (iii) heating the selectively applied binder fluid on the metal powder build material to a temperature of from about 40° C. to about 180° C.; and (iv) repeating (i), (ii), and (iii) at least one time to form the three-dimensional object.

A retort for thermally processing sinterable objects including a retort body having an interior cavity configured to receive at least one part for sintering. The retort body includes a retort inlet, a fore volume, an inlet plenum, an outlet plenum and a retort outlet. The retort inlet is configured to be fluidly connected to a process gas inlet tube and receive a flow of process gas. The retort inlet is fluidly connected to the fore volume, the fore volume being configured to receive a cleansing object. The fore volume is fluidly connected to the inlet plenum, which is fluidly connected to the interior cavity, which is in turn fluidly connected to the outlet plenum. The outlet plenum is fluidly connected to the retort outlet which is configured to be fluidly connected to an effluent gas outlet tube via a Peclet sealing element.

A retort for thermally processing sinterable objects including a retort body having an interior cavity configured to receive at least one part for sintering. The retort body includes a retort inlet, a fore volume, an inlet plenum, an outlet plenum and a retort outlet. The retort inlet is configured to be fluidly connected to a process gas inlet tube and receive a flow of process gas. The retort inlet is fluidly connected to the fore volume, the fore volume being configured to receive a cleansing object. The fore volume is fluidly connected to the inlet plenum, which is fluidly connected to the interior cavity, which is in turn fluidly connected to the outlet plenum. The outlet plenum is fluidly connected to the retort outlet which is configured to be fluidly connected to an effluent gas outlet tube via a Peclet sealing element.

Embodiments disclosed are systems and methods for fabricating microchannels in metal. In an embodiments, a method includes providing a first metallic plate having a first surface with an elongated slot recessed therein, providing a second metallic plate having a second surface, interfacing the first surface of the first metallic plate with the second surface of the second metallic plate with the second surface covering the elongated slot to form a microchannel between the first metallic plate and the second metallic plate, thermal bonding the first metallic plate to the second metallic plate to form a metallic body having the microchannel extending therethrough, and infiltrating the metallic body with an infiltrant.

Embodiments disclosed are systems and methods for fabricating microchannels in metal. In an embodiments, a method includes providing a first metallic plate having a first surface with an elongated slot recessed therein, providing a second metallic plate having a second surface, interfacing the first surface of the first metallic plate with the second surface of the second metallic plate with the second surface covering the elongated slot to form a microchannel between the first metallic plate and the second metallic plate, thermal bonding the first metallic plate to the second metallic plate to form a metallic body having the microchannel extending therethrough, and infiltrating the metallic body with an infiltrant.

A method may include fused filament fabricating a fused filament fabricated component by delivering a softened filament to selected locations at or adjacent to a build surface. The softened filament may include a sacrificial binder and a powder including a shape memory alloy (SMA). The method also may include removing substantially all the sacrificial binder from the fused filament fabricated component to leave an unsintered component; and sintering the unsintered component to join particles of the SMA and form an SMA component.

A method may include fused filament fabricating a fused filament fabricated component by delivering a softened filament to selected locations at or adjacent to a build surface. The softened filament may include a sacrificial binder and a powder including a shape memory alloy (SMA). The method also may include removing substantially all the sacrificial binder from the fused filament fabricated component to leave an unsintered component; and sintering the unsintered component to join particles of the SMA and form an SMA component.

There is provided a method of treating a nickel base super alloy (NiSa) article. First, the NiSa article having fine grains is obtained. The NiSa article has a uniform distribution of the fine grains and substantially uniform mechanical properties throughout. One or more regions within the NiSa article are mechanically deformed. Then, the NiSa article is heat treated to obtain coarse grains in the one or more regions, the coarse grains having a size that is larger than that of the fine grains of the NiSa article outside of the one or more regions.

There is provided a method of treating a nickel base super alloy (NiSa) article. First, the NiSa article having fine grains is obtained. The NiSa article has a uniform distribution of the fine grains and substantially uniform mechanical properties throughout. One or more regions within the NiSa article are mechanically deformed. Then, the NiSa article is heat treated to obtain coarse grains in the one or more regions, the coarse grains having a size that is larger than that of the fine grains of the NiSa article outside of the one or more regions.