Patent ID: 7578958

Claim:
A process for forming a three-dimensional article in sequential layers in accordance with a model of the article, the process comprising the steps of: defining a layer of a first material; applying a second material in the form of a liquid reagent to the layer of the first material in a pattern corresponding to the model; and repeating these steps to form successive layers; and in which the deposited layer comprises a first reactive component and the applied liquid material includes a reactive diluent having a reactive group selected from an oxetane and a second active component capable of either reacting with the first reactive component or facilitating the first reactive component to react with itself, whereby the article is built up in layers; and in which the characteristics of at least some of the layers vary across those layers and/or the properties vary from layer to layer and in which the article formed by the sequential layers is substantially void free, apart from voids programmed in the model and wherein the first material is a thermoplastic powder and the whole of the applied liquid material is incorporated with the thermoplastic powder.