Impact of disintegrating agents on the wash-out process for 3D-printed aluminum green parts produced by slurry-based binder jetting

Abstract In this study, the use of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) as a disintegrating agent to enhance the wash-out process in the slurry-based binder jetting of aluminum components is investigated. The beneficial high densities of the green bodies produced by this process complicate the wash-out procedure. The addition of PEG-400 in the slurry composition facilitates redispersion after binder curing in order to get the green body. Comprehensive investigations, including visual assessments and quantitative analyses of the dissolution of the powder compact in an ultrasonic bath, were conducted to evaluate the effects of varying concentrations of PEG-400 in the aluminum slurry on wash-out efficiency. The findings demonstrate that the incorporation of PEG-400 yields favorable outcomes in the wash-out process, significantly improving the overall effectiveness of the technique. The findings allow for the development of a recipe that enables an economical wash-out process for even the most filigree and complex products.