Polyester powder compositions, methods and articles
AssigneeValspar Sourcing, Inc.
InventorRaffaele Martinoni
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- providing a powder composition including at least one semi-crystalline or crystalline aromatic laser-sinterable polyester polymers having a melting temperature between 120 and 220° C.;
- and
- selectively laser sintering the powder composition to fond a three-dimensional article.
A method comprising:
- providing a powder composition including at least one semi-crystalline or crystalline laser-sinterable polyester polymers having a melting temperature between 150 and 220° C.;
- and
- selectively laser sintering the powder composition to form a three-dimensional article.
A method comprising:
- providing a powder composition including a blend of two or more laser-sinterable polyester polymers, wherein:
- at least one of the polyester polymers is semi-crystalline or crystalline, and
- at least one of the polyester polymer is amorphous;
- selectively laser sintering the powder composition to form a three-dimensional article.
A powder composition comprising:
- at least one laser-sinterable polyester polymer powder;
- and
- at least about 3 weight percent of reinforcing particles having an aspect ratio of at least about 5:1 and a maximum dimension of less than about 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 about 1 weight percent of the powder composition, based on the total weight of the powder composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.