Producing semi-crystalline pulverulent polycarbonate and use thereof in additive manufacturing
AssigneeJabil Inc.
InventorsThomas Gardner, Travis Hislop
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ways of preparing a partially crystalline polycarbonate powder are provided that include dissolving an amorphous polycarbonate in a polar aprotic solvent to form a first solution of solubilized polycarbonate at a first temperature. The first solution is then cooled to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, where a portion of the solubilized polycarbonate precipitates from the first solution to form a second solution including the partially crystalline polycarbonate powder. Certain partially crystalline polycarbonate powders resulting from such methods are particularly useful in additive manufacturing processes, including powder bed fusion processes.
Claims19
A method of preparing a partially crystalline polycarbonate powder, the method comprising:
- dissolving an amorphous polycarbonate in a polar aprotic solvent to form a first solution of solubilized polycarbonate at a first temperature;
- and
- cooling the first solution to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, wherein a portion of the solubilized polycarbonate precipitates from the first solution to form a second solution comprised of precipitated partially crystalline polycarbonate powder and a dissolved remaining portion of polycarbonate in the solvent, wherein the dissolving step includes heating the amorphous polycarbonate in the polar aprotic solvent to form the first solution of solubilized polycarbonate at the first temperature, the first temperature being greater than room temperature.
A method of preparing a partially crystalline polycarbonate powder, the method comprising:
- dissolving an amorphous polycarbonate in a polar aprotic solvent to form a first solution of solubilized polycarbonate at a first temperature;
- and
- cooling the first solution to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, wherein a portion of the solubilized polycarbonate precipitates from the first solution to form a second solution comprised of precipitated partially crystalline polycarbonate powder and a dissolved remaining portion of polycarbonate in the solvent, wherein the partially crystalline polycarbonate powder has a D90 particle size of less than about 150 micrometers.
A method of preparing a partially crystalline polycarbonate powder, the method comprising:
- dissolving an amorphous polycarbonate in a polar aprotic solvent to form a first solution of solubilized polycarbonate at a first temperature;
- and
- cooling the first solution to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, wherein a portion of the solubilized polycarbonate precipitates from the first solution to form a second solution comprised of precipitated partially crystalline polycarbonate powder and a dissolved remaining portion of polycarbonate in the solvent, wherein the partially crystalline polycarbonate powder has at least about 20% crystallinity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.