Patent ID: 11939649
Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Field: Materials, metallurgy (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C  B  Y | IPC B  C

Claim 0:
1. A three-dimensional printing method for forming a fused model, the method comprising:
applying a plurality of successive sintering composition layers, each layer comprising (i) a sintering composition powder layer and (ii) a binder applied to at least a portion of the sintering composition powder layer, wherein:
the sintering composition powder comprises in admixture (a) a first metallic iron-containing powder, (b) a boron-containing powder, and (c) optionally a second metallic iron-containing powder having at least one of a different composition relative to the first metallic iron-containing powder and a different size distribution relative to the first metallic iron-containing powder;
collective binder-containing portions of the sintering composition powder in the plurality of successive sintering composition layers define a selected geometry of the fused model; and
applying the plurality of successive sintering composition layers comprises (i) applying successive sintering composition powder layers as successive layers in an adjustable print bed, and (ii) applying successive portions of binder with a moveable print head to the successive sintering composition powder layers;

curing the binder and then removing free sintering composition from bound sintering composition to form a sintering model; and
sintering the sintering model to form a unitary fused model from the sintering composition.