Patent ID: 7708929

Claim:
A process for producing a three-dimensional object, comprising: a) providing a layer of pulverulent substrate, wherein the pulverulent substrate contains about 0.05 to about 5% by weight of a flow aid, b) selectively applying at least one microwave-absorbing first susceptor to one or more regions of the substrate, wherein the one or more regions are selected in accordance with a cross section of the three-dimensional object, wherein the first susceptor comprises a member selected from powders of metals or metal compounds, ceramic powders, graphite, activated charcoal, or one or more protic liquids selected from saturated monohydric linear aliphatic alcohols, polyhydric linear aliphatic alcohols, monohydric branched aliphatic alcohols, polyhydric branched aliphatic alcohols, monohydric cyclic aliphatic alcohols or polyhydric cyclic aliphatic alcohols, each undiluted, or in a mixture with water, c) treating the layer at least once with microwave radiation, to melt the one or more regions containing the first susceptor to the layer of pulverulent substrate, and, optionally, to melt the one or more regions containing the first susceptor with other regions located in one or more substrate layers situated thereunder, thereabove, or combinations thereof, wherein, said other regions optionally contain a microwave-absorbing second susceptor, and wherein said first susceptor and said second susceptor are the same or different, and d) cooling the layer.