Method for separating polymer elements, which were produced by an additive manufacturing method, by means of granular media

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for treating polymer elements obtained by an additive manufacturing process. The method encompasses providing a treating liquid in a chamber of an apparatus and providing the polymer elements to be treated. Further, the method optionally encompasses a heating step of heating a treating liquid to a temperature below an upper threshold temperature, wherein the upper threshold temperature is in a range of 1° C. to 80° C. below the melting temperature of the polymer from which the polymer elements are formed. The method further encompasses a treatment, preferably smoothing, step, wherein the polymer elements are in, or come into, contact with the treating liquid at a temperature above a lower threshold temperature and below the upper threshold temperature for a predetermined period. This is carried out under conditions in which the treating liquid is in liquid state. Furthermore, the method optionally encompasses a cooling step for cooling the polymer elements. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for treating polymer elements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.