Development of systems to increase the green part strength of the three-dimensional printed Z-Corps manufactured parts by infiltration processes to improve their range of application

The ultimate goal of this research project is to increase green part strength and accuracy of Z-Corps manufactured parts by the infiltration process to increase its mechanical properties. An accurate 3D model of intricate parts can be produced using 3D printing technology but these produced parts do not have enough tensile and compressive strength since they are plaster based (powder and binder). To date, the parts are infiltrated with wax, which results in lower tensile and compressive strength, so the parts are very delicate. It is expected that by varying the different concentrations of other highly viscous materials, relative strength, temperature, resistance and durability of these green parts can be changed, in turn the tensile and compressive strengths can be increased. With the strength increased, parts produced can be used directly for operations such as Injection moulding, casting processes, similar to the metal moulds strength would be created using this process of infiltration.