Making Strong Ceramic-Metal Parts with Special 3D Printing Powder
Fujimi Inc.'s patent describes a special 3D printing powder made of ceramic and metal particles combined into granulated units, designed to efficiently produce high-density, strong parts.
Original patent title: “Additive manufacturing material for powder rapid prototyping manufacturing”
Fujimi Inc.'s patent describes a special 3D printing powder made of ceramic and metal particles combined into granulated units, designed to efficiently produce high-density, strong parts. Owned by Fujimi with 10 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes an additive manufacturing material, essentially a specialized powder, for creating high-density objects through 3D printing. It combines a first powder, which is mainly ceramic, with a second powder, which is mainly a specific metal or metal alloy (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 9). These two powders are not just mixed; they form 'granulated particles' where the tiny 'primary particles' of ceramic and metal are bound together, leaving small spaces or 'voids' (Claim 9). The ceramic particles are also required to be smaller than the metal particles, specifically their average diameter (D1) must be half or less than half of the metal particles' average diameter (D2) (Claim 9). The metal content in these granulated particles must be between 15% and less than 90% by mass (Claim 9). For example, this material could be used to 3D print a durable, heat-resistant component for an engine or a wear-resistant tool.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover additive manufacturing materials where the ceramic powder's average particle diameter is more than half the metal powder's average particle diameter (D1 > 0.5 * D2).
- Does not cover materials where the ceramic and metal powders are simply mixed, rather than forming 'granulated particles' where primary particles are three-dimensionally bound through voids.
- Does not cover materials where the metal component is less than 15% or 90% or more by mass of the total ceramic and metal powder content.
- Does not cover materials using metal elements or alloys not explicitly listed in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 9 or claim 10, such as certain rare earth metals or specific custom alloys.
- Does not cover materials where either the first powder is not mainly ceramic or the second powder is not mainly metal.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is how the ceramic and metal powders are structured: they form 'granulated particles' where tiny primary particles are bound together with specific size ratios (ceramic particles being half or less the size of metal particles) and precise metal content. This unique structure allows for efficient molding and results in high-density final products.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Aerospace engine components
Medical implants requiring high strength and biocompatibility
Wear-resistant industrial tooling and cutting inserts
Automotive parts for high-performance vehicles
Components for nuclear reactors or other high-temperature environments
Why it matters
The bigger picture
High-density parts made from ceramic and metal composites offer superior strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance, making them valuable in demanding applications. This patent aims to make it easier and more efficient to produce such complex parts using additive manufacturing. By carefully controlling the material's composition and structure, it allows for the creation of components that might be difficult or impossible to make with traditional methods.
Filed
April 29, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Fujimi Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major player in precision abrasives and advanced materials, likely continuing to develop and apply this technology. Other companies in the additive manufacturing space, particularly those focused on metal and ceramic printing like EOS, 3D Systems, Desktop Metal, and Velo3D, are actively researching and producing advanced materials for high-performance parts. These companies are continually seeking materials that enable higher density, better mechanical properties, and more complex geometries.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing evolution of additive manufacturing, particularly for high-performance materials. It enables the creation of parts with improved density and strength, which can expand the applications of 3D printing into more demanding industries like aerospace and medical devices. By offering a more efficient way to combine ceramics and metals, it could reduce manufacturing costs and lead times for complex components, potentially opening up new product categories or improving existing ones.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes an additive manufacturing material, essentially a specialized powder, for creating high-density objects through 3D printing. It combines a first powder, which is mainly ceramic, with a second powder, which is mainly a specific metal or metal alloy (Claim 9). These two powders are not just mixed; they form 'granulated particles' where the tiny 'primary particles' of ceramic and metal are bound together, leaving small spaces or 'voids' (Claim 9). The ceramic particles are also required to be smaller than the metal particles, specifically their average diameter (D1) must be half or less than half of the metal particles' average diameter (D2) (Claim 9). The metal content in these granulated particles must be between 15% and less than 90% by mass (Claim 9). For example, this material could be used to 3D print a durable, heat-resistant component for an engine or a wear-resistant tool.
The clever bit
The clever bit is how the ceramic and metal powders are structured: they form 'granulated particles' where tiny primary particles are bound together with specific size ratios (ceramic particles being half or less the size of metal particles) and precise metal content. This unique structure allows for efficient molding and results in high-density final products.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover additive manufacturing materials where the ceramic powder's average particle diameter is more than half the metal powder's average particle diameter (D1 > 0.5 * D2).
- Does not cover materials where the ceramic and metal powders are simply mixed, rather than forming 'granulated particles' where primary particles are three-dimensionally bound through voids.
- Does not cover materials where the metal component is less than 15% or 90% or more by mass of the total ceramic and metal powder content.
- Does not cover materials using metal elements or alloys not explicitly listed in claim 9 or claim 10, such as certain rare earth metals or specific custom alloys.
- Does not cover materials where either the first powder is not mainly ceramic or the second powder is not mainly metal.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
7/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$27K – $86K
Midpoint $54K · 15.5 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
10 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Yamada, J., & Ibe, H. Making Strong Ceramic-Metal Parts with Special 3D Printing Powder (U.S. Patent No. 20,220,266,511). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220266511/additive-manufacturing-material-for-powder-rapid-prototyping-manufacturing
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Making Strong Ceramic-Metal Parts with Special 3D Printing Powder cover?
Fujimi Inc.'s patent describes a special 3D printing powder made of ceramic and metal particles combined into granulated units, designed to efficiently produce high-density, strong parts.
Who owns patent US 20220266511?
This patent is owned by Fujimi.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 29, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20220266511 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
High-density parts made from ceramic and metal composites offer superior strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance, making them valuable in demanding applications. This patent aims to make it easier and more efficient to produce such complex parts using additive manufacturing. By carefully controlling the material's composition and structure, it allows for the creation of components that might be difficult or impossible to make with traditional methods.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover additive manufacturing materials where the ceramic powder's average particle diameter is more than half the metal powder's average particle diameter (D1 > 0.5 * D2).
Patent monitoring