Importance

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Abstract

A method of binder jet printing a metal part includes depositing a layer of a metal powder on a working surface of a binder jet printer and selectively printing a binder solution having a reversible binder into the layer of metal powder in a pattern to generate a printed layer. The pattern is representative of a structure of a layer of the metal part. The method also includes curing the reversible binder in the printed layer to generate a layer of a green body metal part and heating the green body metal part above a first temperature to remove a substantial portion of the reversible binder and generate a brown body metal part. The reversible binder is thermally decomposed to generate oligomers that remain within and strengthen the brown body metal part. The method further includes heating the brown body metal part above a second temperature to remove the oligomers and sinter the metal powder to generate the metal part. The metal part is substantially free of char residue.

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First Claim