# US 2018/0022043 A1 · Method of selective laser sintering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022043 A1 - Document ID: US20180022043A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/215,285 - Filed: 2016-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Applicants: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Barkev Keoshkerian; Jordan H. Wosnick; Rachel Prestayko; Kimberly D. Nosella; Valerie M. Farrugia; Edward G. Zwartz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022043A1 ## CPC - B29C 64/135: the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources - 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 - B29K 2021/003: {Thermoplastic elastomers} - B29K 2067/00: Use of polyesters {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29K 2105/251: {Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046)} - 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 - 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 A method of selective laser sintering is disclosed. The method comprises providing composite particles made by emulsion aggregation, the composite particles comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one carbon particle material. The composite particles are exposed to a laser to fuse the composite particles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of selective laser sintering, the method comprising: providing composite particles made by emulsion aggregation, the composite particles comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one carbon particle material; and exposing the composite particles to a laser to fuse the particles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is a latex. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polyether sulfones, polyaryl ether ketones, polyetherimide, polyethylenes, polyphenylene oxides, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, styrene-butyl acrylate, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), polyvinyl chlorides and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyether ether ketone, polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate), polypropylene, Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), polystyrene, poly(styrene isoprene styrene), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly(Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene) (SEBS), styrene n-butyl acrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone, poly (propoxylated bisphenol A co-fumarate), nylon and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one carbon particle material is selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, graphite, graphene and combinations thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, whereby the composite particles are formed by a process of emulsion aggregation, the process comprising: providing a stable emulsion of latex polymer particles; aggregating the latex polymer particles in the presence of the at least one carbon particle material to form aggregate particles comprising both the latex polymer particles and the carbon particle material; and heating the aggregate particles to coalesce the latex polymer particles and form composite particles comprising the coalesced latex polymer and the carbon particle material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon particle material is in an amount of at least 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite particles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composite particles are toner. ### Claim 9 A method of selective laser sintering, the method comprising: providing composite particles made by emulsion aggregation, the composite particles comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one carbon particle material, the carbon particle material being in an amount of at least 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composite particles, the at least one carbon particle material selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, graphite, graphene and combinations thereof; and exposing the composite particles to a laser to fuse the particles to form a three-dimensional object by selective laser sintering. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is a latex. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polyether sulfones, polyaryl ether ketones, polyetherimide, polyethylenes, polyphenylene oxides, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, styrene-butyl acrylate, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), polyvinyl chlorides and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyether ether ketone, polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate), polypropylene, Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), polystyrene, poly(styrene isoprene styrene), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly(Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene) (SEBS), styrene n-butyl acrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone, poly (propoxylated bisphenol A co-fumarate), nylon and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the carbon particle material is in an amount of at least 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite particles. ### Claim 14 A method of selective laser sintering, the method comprising: making composite particles by an emulsion aggregation process, the composite particles comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one carbon particle material; and exposing the composite particles to a laser to fuse the particles to form a three-dimensional object by selective laser sintering. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is a latex comprising at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polyether sulfones, polyaryl ether ketones, polyetherimide, polyethylenes, polyphenylene oxides, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, styrene-butyl acrylate, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), polyvinyl chlorides and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer is a latex comprising at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyether ether ketone, polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate), polypropylene, Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), polystyrene, poly(styrene isoprene styrene), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly(Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene) (SEBS), styrene n-butyl acrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone, poly (propoxylated bisphenol A co-fumarate), nylon and combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one carbon particle material is selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, graphite, graphene and combinations thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, whereby the process of emulsion aggregation comprises: providing a stable emulsion of latex polymer particles; aggregating the latex polymer particles in the presence of the at least one carbon particle material to form aggregate particles comprising both the latex polymer particles and the carbon particle material; and heating the aggregate particles to coalesce the latex polymer particles and form composite particles comprising the coalesced latex polymer and the carbon particle material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein providing the stable emulsion of latex polymer particles comprises: providing at least one monomer material; and preparing the stable emulsion of latex polymer particles from the monomer material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the carbon particle material is in an amount of at least 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composite particles.