# US 10,870,232 B2 · Polyester powder compositions, methods and articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,232 B2 - Document ID: US10870232B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/181,496 - Filed: 2018-11-06 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-09 - Assignees: 3D Systems, Inc. - Applicants: 3D Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Raffaele Martinoni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870232B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 70/10: Composites of different types of material, e.g. mixtures of ceramics and polymers or mixtures of metals and biomaterials - C08K 3/013: Fillers, pigments or reinforcing additives - C08K 3/08: Metals - C08K 3/34: Silicon-containing compounds - C08K 3/36: Silica - C08K 9/06: with silicon-containing compounds - C08L 67/02: Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds (C08L67/06 takes precedence) - B29C 2035/0838: {using laser} - B29K 2067/00: Use of polyesters {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29K 2105/251: {Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046)} - C08K 2003/0812: {Aluminium} - C08K 2201/016: Additives defined by their aspect ratio - C08L 2205/025: containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract Powder compositions and articles and methods of forming articles from powder compositions are provided. In one embodiment the powder compositions include at least one polyester polymer powder and an amount of reinforcing particles having an aspect ratio of preferably at least about 5:1. In another embodiment the powder compositions include at least one medium-high melting temperature, aromatic and crystalline polyester polymer powder. In a preferred embodiment, the powder composition is capable of being formed, via a laser sintering process, into a three-dimensional article that exhibits one or more desirable mechanical properties in an elevated temperature environment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powder composition comprising: at least one laser-sinterable polymer powder, and at least 3 weight percent of reinforcing particles having an aspect ratio of at least 5:1 and a maximum dimension of less than 300 microns, based on the total weight of the powder composition; wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing particles are mineral particles that comprise at least 1 wt. % of the powder composition, based on the total weight of the powder composition, wherein the at least one polymer powder is selected from the group consisting of nylon-6,10; nylon-6,12; nylon-6,13; nylon-8,10; nylon-8,12; nylon-10,10; nylon-10,12; nylon-12,12; nylon-11; nylon-12; and a mixture thereof; and wherein the mineral particles comprise wollastonite. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein the mineral particles comprise at least 3 wt. % of the powder composition, based on the total weight of the powder composition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing particles have an aspect ratio of at least 20:1. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein the mineral particles further comprise a silicate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing particles have a maximum dimension of greater than 10 microns. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein, when the powder composition is laser sintered to form a test specimen, the reinforcing particles are present in an amount sufficient to increase the heat deflection temperature in accordance with Method A of ISO 75-2: 2004 of the test specimen by at least 10° C. relative to a reference test specimen produced by laser sintering the at least one polymer powder in the absence of the reinforcing particles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein, when the powder composition is laser sintered to form a test specimen, the test specimen has a heat deflection temperature in accordance with Method A of ISO 75-2: 2004 of at least 130° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein, when the powder composition is laser sintered to form a test specimen, the test specimen has a heat deflection temperature in accordance with Method A of ISO 75-2: 2004 of at least 150° C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The powder composition of claim 1, wherein, when the powder composition is laser sintered to form a test specimen, the test specimen has a tensile strength in accordance with ISO 527 of at least 40 MPa. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method comprising: providing the powder composition of claim 1, and selectively laser sintering the powder composition to form a three-dimensional article. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein providing the powder composition comprises: melt blending the reinforcing particles and the at least one polymer powder or pellets containing the material of the at least one polymer powder; and forming the powder composition from the resulting blend. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A three-dimensional article prepared by the method of claim 11.