PLASTIC BLASTING MEDIUM AND USE OF A PLASTIC BLASTING MEDIUM

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic blasting agent A and the use of a plastic blasting agent A, comprising at least one particle PA1 made from at least one polymer KA1 and at least one foreign particle FA1 for the surface treatment of a component that was created using additive manufacturing.

Claims

1. A plastic blasting agent A, comprising at least one particle PA1 made from at least one polymer KA1 and at least one foreign particle FA1, the foreign particle FA1 not being an abrasive grain.

2. The plastic blasting agent A according to claim 1, wherein the polymer KA1 has a Shore hardness of 10 Shore A to 95 Shore D.

3. The plastic blasting agent A according to claim 1, wherein the polymer KA1 is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, resins, polyesters, polystyrenes, polyolefins, polyvinyls, rubbers, polyvinyl chlorides, polyphenylenes, polyethers, polyurethanes, polysaccharides, polyimides, polyacrylates, silicones and blends and copolymers thereof, and the foreign particle FA1 is from the group consisting of metals, passivated metals, iron, steel, minerals, soot particles, carbon fibers, paint particles, ceramics, polymers, alloys or glasses.

4. The plastic blasting agent according to claim 1, wherein the foreign particle FA1 is not of metallic origin.

5. The plastic blasting agent A according to claim 1, wherein the at least one particle PA1 comprises 3 to 95% by weight of at least one polymer KA1, 5 to 97% by weight of at least one foreign particle FA1, and 0 to 10% by weight of at least one additive and/or adhesion promoter.

6. Use of a plastic blasting agent A, comprising at least one particle PA1 made from at least one polymer KA1, and at least one foreign particle FA1 for the surface treatment of a component that was produced by additive manufacturing.

7. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, wherein the component, which was created by means of additive manufacturing, was produced using a method selected from the group consisting of powder bed methods, light-curing methods, or extrusion methods.

8. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, wherein the surface treatment of the component comprises depowdering, compacting, smoothing and/or surface roughening.

9. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, wherein the foreign particle FA1 is not an abrasive grain.

10. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, wherein the polymer KA1 has a Shore hardness of 10 Shore A to 95 Shore D.

11. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, wherein the polymer KA1 is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, resins, polyesters, polystyrenes, polyolefins, polyvinyls, rubbers, polyvinyl chlorides, polyphenylenes, polyethers, polyurethanes, polysaccharides, polyimides, polyacrylates, silicones and blends and copolymers thereof, and the foreign particle FA1 is from the group consisting of metals, passivated metals, iron, steel, minerals, soot particles, carbon fibers, paint particles, ceramics, polymers, alloys or glasses.

12. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, wherein the component is produced by an additive manufacturing or printing method and wherein the component is produced from a material selected from the group consisting of polyamide, thermoplastic polyurethane, aluminum-filled metal, polyamide, glass-filled polyamide, carbon-reinforced polyamide, and combinations, blends, or copolymers thereof.

13. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, wherein the density of the particle PA1 is in a range from 0.7 to 8 g/cm 3.

14. Use of a plastic blasting agent A according to claim 6, comprising at least one particle PA1 made of 3 to 95% by weight of at least one polymer KA1, 5 to 97% by weight of at least one foreign particle FA1, and 0 to 10% by weight of at least one additive and/or adhesion promoter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0124] In FIG. 1, the depowdering process is illustrated in cross section from the prior art.

[0125] In FIG. 2, fragments of a blasting agent from the prior art are illustrated in cross section.

[0126] In FIG. 3, the compacting process from the prior art is shown in cross section.

[0127] In FIG. 4, another prior art depowdered component is shown in cross section before being colored.

[0128] FIG. 5 shows a coloring process from the prior art in cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0129] FIG. 1 illustrates the depowdering process as is known from the prior art. The surface (1) of an additively manufactured component (2) is shown, the surface (1) of which is blasted using a metallic or mineral blasting agent (3) in order to remove powder particles from earlier. This is a known method in the prior art. Fragments (4) of the blasting agent are also shown.

[0130] FIG. 2 shows that fragments (4) of the blasting agent used for depowdering are present on the surface (1) of the component (2).

[0131] FIG. 3 illustrates the compaction process. This results in the fragments (4) from the first blasting agent entering the surface of the component during the compaction process due to the second blasting agent (5).

[0132] Like FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows a depowdered component (2) in which the fragments (4) of the blasting agent are present on the surface (2) after the depowdering process. When coloring this component, then, as shown in FIG. 5, the colorant (6) is not applied uniformly to the surface (1) everywhere, since the fragments (4) do not absorb the colorant.

[0133] Analytical Methods

[0134] Table 1 lists the comparison of the test conditions for determining the various Shore hardness values, as specified in the claims and the description.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison of the test conditions for determining SHORE hardness values Standard ISO 7619-1 EN ISO 868 DIN 53606 ASTM 2240 Condition (2012 Feb.) [2] (2003 Oct.) [4] (2000 Aug.) [1] (2015 Aug.) [5] sample 6 mm 4 mm 6 mm 6 mm thickness layering yes (3 layers) yes yes (3 layers) yes measurements 5 5 3 5 measuring 6 mm 6 mm 5 mm 6 mm distance holding time 3 s vulcanizates 3 s/15 s 3 s <1 s 15 s TPE 1 s It. 15 s specification load 1 kg SHORE A A: 12.5N ? 0.5 A: 12.5N ? 0.5 1 kg 5 kg SHORE D: 50.0N ? 0.5 D: 50.0N ? 0.5 D hardness 54 Shore A 3 s A/1: 54 54 Shore A A/54/15 specification 54 Shore A15 s A/15: 54 54 Shore A 15 s A/54/1

EXAMPLES

[0135] In the examples described below, the treatment of a component with blasting agents is described, comprising two steps. [0136] 1. Depowdering of additively manufactured components using the plastic blasting agent described above. (The plastic blasting media employed can also be plastic blasting media with fillings and/or other particles that have been coated with plastic.) [0137] 2. Compaction of the component with polystyrene beads. [0138] 3. Coloring in the Deep Dye Coloring Process, i. e. coloring in the dipping process or coloring in a colorant solution.

[0139] An example of the evaluated process is described below:

[0140] 1. Depowdering Process

[0141] The additively manufactured components were depowdered using a plastic blasting agent.

[0142] Properties of the Blasting Agent: [0143] Grain shape: cylindrical [0144] Grain size: uniformly 400 ?m [0145] Material properties: Polyamide-6, extruded, filled with glass beads (<100 ?m).

[0146] Process Parameters: [0147] Blasting time from 5 to 90 minutes [0148] Blasting pressure from 2 to 5 bar [0149] Blow-off pressure (cleaning nozzles) 6 to 8 bar

[0150] 2. Compaction Process

[0151] The depowdered components were then compacted. Polystyrene balls are accelerated in the blasting nozzle of an injector blasting cabin with 5 bar compressed air and blasted onto the component surface. When the spherical polystyrene particles hit the surface, a compaction effect occurs.

[0152] Properties of the Blasting Agent: [0153] Grain shape: spherical/ball-shaped [0154] Grain size: Grain size distribution from 400-600 ?m [0155] Material properties: polystyrene (polystyrenic copolymer)

[0156] Process Parameters: [0157] Blasting time from 5 to 90 minutes [0158] Blasting pressure at 3-5 bar [0159] Blow-off pressure (cleaning nozzles) 6 to 8 bar

[0160] 3. Coloring/Infiltration Process

[0161] The compacted components were then colored using the dipping/infiltration process [0162] Coloring temperature: 115? [0163] Coloring time: Total process approx. 3 hours, depending on material and component quantity, ambient conditions. [0164] Drying time: 30 minutes on average, depending on geometry and component quantity. [0165] Color/color formulation: Varies, especially formulations that are generally particularly problematic.

[0166] In combination, the processes meet all requirements. The problems that arise with the commonly utilized glass blasting agent for depowdering do not occur. The color quality on the finished component is significantly better than when using glass blasting agents in the depowdering process.