Multi-material polymer filament for three-dimensional printing

A filament or preform for use in 3D printing, the filament or preform comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer, the filament or preform having an outer surface;

• wherein the first thermoplastic polymer and the second thermoplastic polymer are physically associated in a geometric arrangement, in which a flow temperature of said first thermoplastic polymer is greater than 10 degrees Celsius higher than a flow temperature of said second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the filament or preform has a diameter of at least 1 millimeter,
• wherein the first thermoplastic polymer comprises a central node with extending arms substantially surrounded by the second thermoplastic,
• wherein said regular arrangement is an interlocking arrangement of the first and second thermoplastic polymers,
• wherein the filament or preform is configured to be 3D printed as multiple layers of extrudate through a nozzle using a 3D printer which accepts continuous filaments with a diameter of at least 1 mm, and
• further wherein the first and second thermoplastic polymers are selected so that the change in overall dimensions of the multiple layers of extrudate, after printing and subsequent annealing at a temperature above the flow temperature of the second thermoplastic polymer and below the flow temperature of the first thermoplastic polymer, is less than 10%.

A filament or preform for use in 3D printing, the filament or preform comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer, the filament or preform having an outer surface;

• wherein the first thermoplastic polymer and the second thermoplastic polymer are physically associated in a geometric arrangement, in which a flow temperature of said first thermoplastic polymer is greater than 10 degrees Celsius higher than a flow temperature of said second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the cross-sectional geometry of the first thermoplastic polymer comprises a central node with at least three extending arms, where each arm has the same length and uniform thickness along its length, surrounded by the second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein at least 50% of the outer surface is comprised of the second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the filament or preform has a diameter of at least 1 millimeter, and
• further wherein the filament or preform is configured to be 3D printed as multiple layers of extrudate through a nozzle using a 3D printer which accepts continuous filaments with a diameter of at least 1 mm, and the multiple layers of extrudate can be subsequently annealed above the flow temperature of the second polymer and below the flow temperature of the first thermoplastic polymer to provide an increase in the interlaminar strength between the printed multiple layers of extrudate of at least 100% after annealing.

A filament or preform, the filament or preform comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer, the filament or preform having an outer surface;

• wherein the first thermoplastic polymer and the second thermoplastic polymer are physically associated in a geometric arrangement, in which a flow temperature of said first thermoplastic polymer is greater than 10 degrees Celsius higher than a flow temperature of said second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the filament or preform has a diameter of at least 1 millimeter,
• wherein the cross-sectional geometry of the first thermoplastic polymer comprises a central node with three to six extending arms, where each arm has the same length and uniform thickness along its length, surrounded by the second thermoplastic polymer in the geometric arrangement,
• wherein at least 90% of the outer surface is comprised of the second thermoplastic polymer, and
• further wherein the filament or preform is configured to be 3D printed as multiple layers of extrudate through a nozzle using a 3D printer which accepts continuous filaments with a diameter of at least 1 mm, and the multiple layers of extrudate can be subsequently annealed above the flow temperature of the second polymer and below the flow temperature of the first thermoplastic polymer to provide an increase in the interlaminar strength between the printed multiple layers of extrudate of at least 100% after annealing.

A filament or preform for use in 3D printing, the filament or preform comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer, the filament or preform having an outer surface;

• wherein the first thermoplastic polymer and the second thermoplastic polymer are physically associated in a geometric arrangement, in which a flow temperature of said first thermoplastic polymer is greater than 10 degrees Celsius higher than a flow temperature of said second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the cross-sectional geometry of the first thermoplastic polymer comprises a central node with five extending, where each arm has the same length and uniform thickness along its length, surrounded by the second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein at least 90% of the outer surface is comprised of the second thermoplastic polymer,
• wherein the filament or preform has a diameter of at least 1 millimeter, and further wherein the filament or preform is configured to be 3D printed as multiple layers of extrudate through a nozzle using a 3D printer which accepts continuous filaments with a diameter of at least 1 mm, and the multiple layers of extrudate can be subsequently annealed above the flow temperature of the second polymer and below the flow temperature of the first thermoplastic polymer to provide an increase in the interlaminar strength between the printed multiple layers of extrudate of at least 100% after annealing.