Pigmented polymer particles and methods of production and uses thereof

Abstract

Pigmented polymer particles may comprise a thermoplastic polymer and a pigment, wherein at least some of the pigmented polymer particles have a morphology according to (a), (b), (c), or any combination thereof: (a) the pigment having a coating comprising the thermoplastic polymer and the coated pigment adhered to a thermoplastic polymer particle, (b) the pigment being embedded in an outer surface of the thermoplastic polymer particle, and (c) the pigment being encapsulated by the thermoplastic polymer particle. The pigmented polymer particles, especially the highly spherical pigmented polymer particles, may be useful, among other things, as starting material for additive manufacturing. For example, a method may comprise: depositing, upon a surface, the foregoing pigmented polymer particles optionally in combination with other thermoplastic polymer particles; and once deposited, heating at least a portion of the particles to promote consolidation thereof and form a consolidated body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.