Color-changing particulate compositions for additive manufacturing and methods associated therewith

A method comprising:

• providing a particulate composition comprising a plurality of thermoplastic particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a color-changing material associated with the thermoplastic particulates, the color-changing material being both photochromic and thermochromic;
• wherein the thermoplastic particulates have an average particle size ranging from about 1 μm to about 1000 μm, and the color-changing material is incorporated upon an outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates after formation thereof;
• and
• forming a printed object having a polymer matrix comprising the thermoplastic polymer and the color-changing material associated with the polymer matrix.

A particulate composition comprising:

• a plurality of thermoplastic particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a color-changing material associated with the thermoplastic particulates, the color-changing material being both photochromic and thermochromic;
• wherein the color-changing material is incorporated upon an outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates after formation thereof;
• and
• a plurality of silica nanoparticles disposed upon the outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates;
• wherein the silica nanoparticles have a size ranging from about 1 nm to about 100 nm.