Sub Surface Catalisation

Sub Surface Catalisation (SSC) is a new method for 3D Printing two part platinum curing RTV Silicones. The method was discovered by Fripp Design Limited in 2010 when the company was working with two part curing platinum silicones as part of a project to develop a method to 3D Print Soft Tissue Prostheses.
RTV Silicones consist of three components. They are the base Silicone Oil, the Cross Linker and Catalyst. Historically these are moulded by mixing the three components together with an appropriate thickening agent. Fripp Design Limited worked out a method to 3D Print silicone by using the Catalyst to control the curing of the Silicone Oil and Cross Linker.
The bath contains the Silicone Oil, the Cross Linker and a thickening agent (whose purpose is to make sure the injection process is self buoyant). The Catalyst is injected into the bath with the process being controlled via a digital compressor and an X-Y-Z gantry system.
The process has been granted a UK patent and filings have been submitted for the United States and Europe.

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