Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C64/00—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
  • B29C64/30—Auxiliary operations or equipment
  • B29C64/307—Handling of material to be used in additive manufacturing
  • B29C64/314—Preparation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
  • B29B13/00—Conditioning or physical treatment of the material to be shaped
  • B29B13/007—Treatment of sinter powders
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29C64/00—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
  • B29C64/10—Processes of additive manufacturing
  • B29C64/141—Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials
  • B29C64/153—Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y10/00—Processes of additive manufacturing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y40/00—Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
  • B33Y40/10—Pre-treatment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y70/00—Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G64/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming a carbonic ester link in the main chain of the macromolecule
  • C08G64/40—Post-polymerisation treatment
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G73/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming a linkage containing nitrogen with or without oxygen or carbon in the main chain of the macromolecule, not provided for in groups C08G12/00 - C08G71/00
  • C08G73/06—Polycondensates having nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings in the main chain of the macromolecule
  • C08G73/10—Polyimides; Polyester-imides; Polyamide-imides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
  • C08G73/1046—Polyimides containing oxygen in the form of ether bonds in the main chain
  • C08G73/1053—Polyimides containing oxygen in the form of ether bonds in the main chain with oxygen only in the tetracarboxylic moiety
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J3/00—Processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances
  • C08J3/12—Powdering or granulating
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J3/00—Processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances
  • C08J3/12—Powdering or granulating
  • C08J3/14—Powdering or granulating by precipitation from solutions
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L69/00—Compositions of polycarbonates; Compositions of derivatives of polycarbonates
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L79/00—Compositions of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing nitrogen with or without oxygen or carbon only, not provided for in groups C08L61/00 - C08L77/00
  • C08L79/04—Polycondensates having nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings in the main chain; Polyhydrazides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
  • C08L79/08—Polyimides; Polyester-imides; Polyamide-imides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29K2069/00—Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29K2079/00—Use of polymers having nitrogen, with or without oxygen or carbon only, in the main chain, not provided for in groups B29K2061/00 - B29K2077/00, as moulding material
  • B29K2079/08—PI, i.e. polyimides or derivatives thereof
  • B29K2079/085—Thermoplastic polyimides, e.g. polyesterimides, PEI, i.e. polyetherimides, or polyamideimides; Derivatives thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0037—Other properties
  • B29K2995/0039—Amorphous
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • 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
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0037—Other properties
  • B29K2995/0041—Crystalline
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y80/00—Products made by additive manufacturing
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G2140/00—Compositions for moulding powders
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G2250/00—Compositions for preparing crystalline polymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J2369/00—Characterised by the use of polycarbonates; Derivatives of polycarbonates
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J2379/00—Characterised by the use of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing nitrogen with or without oxygen, or carbon only, not provided for in groups C08J2361/00 - C08J2377/00
  • C08J2379/04—Polycondensates having nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings in the main chain; Polyhydrazides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
  • C08J2379/08—Polyimides; Polyester-imides; Polyamide-imides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors

Definitions

• Powder bed fusing is an additive manufacturing process in which thermal energy selectively fuses regions of a powder bed. It is difficult to employ amorphous polymer powders in powder bed fusing processes because they generally do not have a sharp melting point. Instead, they generally have a gradual melting range. This property causes the applied thermal energy source (e.g., a laser beam) in a powder bed fusing process to be disadvantageously dissipated into the regions surrounding where the energy beam strikes the bed. This undesired dissipation of thermal energy can cause unstable processing as well as poor feature resolution in the intended three dimensional articles being produced. However, most amorphous polymers such as polycarbonates or polyetherimides have low shrinkage properties, which can cause less warpage in the final article being produced. Thus, a need remains in the art for methods that allow amorphous polymers to be used in powder bed fusion processes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION
• One embodiment is a method of making an article, the method comprising converting a first amorphous polymer to an at least partially crystalline polymeric powder composition and powder bed fusing the at least partially crystalline polymer powder composition to form a three-dimensional article comprising a second amorphous polymer.
• the methods can have one or more of the following advantages. For example, due to having crystalline polymeric materials in the powder bed, this method can exhibit a sharp melting point and excellent melting behavior, resulting in excellent dimensional control and feature resolution in the articles produced. Also, the crystalline nature of the polymeric material allows for ease of processing. Moreover, the use of these crystalline polymeric materials also results in lower required melting energy versus the melting of corresponding amorphous polymeric materials.
• the first amorphous polymer is transparent, like polycarbonates and polyetherimides, transparent three dimensional articles can be produced.
• first amorphous polymer refers to any amorphous polymer that can be at least partially converted into a crystalline polymeric material by a process that includes, but is not limited to, the crystallization processes of solvent induced crystallization (SINC), vapor induced crystallization (VINC); or plasticizer or nucleating agent (organic or inorganic) induced crystallization, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, and that crystalline polymeric material is powder bed fused to form a three- dimensional article composed of a second amorphous polymer.
• SINC solvent induced crystallization
• VINC vapor induced crystallization
• plasticizer or nucleating agent organic or inorganic induced crystallization
• the crystalline polymeric powder composition will then revert back to a second amorphous polymer after heating above the melting point of the polymer, resulting in the above-noted advantages of having third dimensional article made of an amorphous polymeric material.
• the amorphous polycarbonates and amorphous polyetherimides noted below are examples of these amorphous polymers. Combinations of different amorphous polymers can also be used herein.
• second amorphous polymer refers to any amorphous polymer that was formed by having the first amorphous polymer, as defined above, at least partially converted into a crystalline polymeric material by a process that includes the a crystallization process of solvent induced crystallization (SINC), vapor induced crystallization (VINC); or plasticizer or nucleating agent (organic or inorganic) induced crystallization, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, and that crystalline polymeric material was then powder bed fused to form a three-dimensional article composed of this second amorphous polymer.
• SINC solvent induced crystallization
• VINC vapor induced crystallization
• plasticizer or nucleating agent organic or inorganic
• the crystalline polymeric powder composition reverts back to this second amorphous polymer after heating above the melting point of the polymer, resulting in the advantages of having third dimensional article made of an amorphous polymeric material.
• the second amorphous polymer can have the same amorphous structure as the first amorphous polymer. In other embodiments the second amorphous polymer does not have the same amorphous structure as the first amorphous polymer It can have a different amorphous structure. Alternatively or in addition, the second amorphous polymer can have a different weight average molecular weight than the first amorphous polymer.
• the phrase“at least partially crystallizing comprising” as used here refers to any process that employs suitable crystallization process of converting the first amorphous polymer to the crystalline polymer. These include, but are not limited to, solvent induced crystallization (SINC), vapor induced crystallization (VINC); plasticizer or nucleating agent (organic or inorganic) induced crystallization, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. Such processes can also include other steps such as size reduction processes to the crystalline polymeric material, cooling the crystalline polymeric material or adding other materials to the crystalline polymeric material or other steps.
• the term“at least partially” as used herein means that not all, but only a portion, of the amorphous polymer has to be converted to a crystalline form.
• Exemplary embodiments of“at least partially” in this context include 100% by weight of the first amorphous polymer is converted to the crystalline polymer; 80% to 100% by weight of the first amorphous polymer is converted to the crystalline polymer; 90% to 100% by weight of the first amorphous polymer is converted to the crystalline polymer; or 95% to 100% by weight of the first amorphous polymer is converted to the crystalline polymer.
• the terms“amorphous polymer” and“crystalline polymer” as used herein mean their usual meanings in the polymer art.
• amorphous polymer the molecules can be oriented randomly and can be intertwined, much like cooked spaghetti, and the polymer can have a glasslike, transparent appearance.
• crystalline polymers the polymer molecules can be aligned together in ordered regions, much like uncooked spaghetti.
• semi-crystalline polymers some types of crystalline polymers are sometimes referred to as semi-crystalline polymers.
• the term“crystalline polymer” as used herein refers to both crystalline and semi-crystalline polymers.
• the term“solvent induced crystallization” refers to any process in the art wherein the amorphous polymer is crystallized using a solvent or non-solvent.
• the term“vapor induced crystallization” also referred to as VINC) as used herein refers to any process in the art wherein the amorphous polymers is crystallized upon evaporation of a solvent or exposure to a solvent vapor.
• plasticizer or nucleating agent (organic or inorganic) induced crystallization refers to any process in the art wherein the amorphous polymer is crystallized by using any plasticizer or any nucleating agent (organic or inorganic) to induce crystallization.
• powder bed fusing is used herein to mean all laser sintering and all selective laser sintering processes as well as other powder bed fusion processes as well as other powder bed fusing technologies as defined by ASTM F2792-12a.
• sintering of the powder composition can be accomplished via application of electromagnetic radiation other than that produced by a laser, with the selectivity of the sintering achieved, for example, through selective application of inhibitors, absorbers, susceptors, or the electromagnetic radiation (e.g., through use of masks or directed laser beams).
• electromagnetic radiation other than that produced by a laser
• Any other suitable source of electromagnetic radiation can be used, including, for example, infrared radiation sources, microwave generators, lasers, radiative heaters, lamps, or a combination thereof.
• SMS selective mask sintering
• No.6,531,086 which describes an SMS machine in which a shielding mask is used to selectively block infrared radiation, resulting in the selective irradiation of a portion of a powder layer.
• the powder composition can include one or more heat absorbers or dark-colored materials (e.g., carbon black, carbon nanotubes, or carbon fibers).
• powder bed fused (e.g., laser sintered) articles can be produced from the powder compositions using any suitable powder bed fusing processes including laser sintering processes.
• These articles can include a plurality of overlying and adherent sintered layers that include a polymeric matrix which, in some embodiments, have reinforcement particles dispersed throughout the polymeric matrix.
• Laser sintering processes are sufficiently well known, and are based on the selective sintering of polymer particles, where layers of polymer particles are briefly exposed to laser light and the polymer particles exposed to the laser light are thus bonded to one another. Successive sintering of layers of polymer particles produces three-dimensional objects. Details concerning the selective laser sintering process are found, by way of example, in the specifications U.S.
• the powder described herein can also be used in other rapid prototyping or rapid manufacturing processing of the prior art, in particular in those described above.
• the powder can in particular be used for producing moldings from powders via the SLS (selective laser sintering) process, as described in U.S. Pat. No.
• a plurality of layers is formed in a preset pattern by an additive manufacturing process.“Plurality” as used in the context of additive manufacturing includes 5 or more layers.
• the maximum number of layers can vary greatly, determined, for example, by considerations such as the size of the article being manufactured, the technique used, the capabilities of the equipment used, and the level of detail desired in the final article. For example, 5 to 100,000 layers can be formed, or 50 to 50,000 layers can be formed.
• “layer” is a term of convenience that includes any shape, regular or irregular, having at least a predetermined thickness.
• the size and configuration two dimensions are predetermined, and on some embodiments, the size and shape of all three dimensions of the layer is predetermined.
• the thickness of each layer can vary widely depending on the additive manufacturing method and particle size. In some embodiments the thickness of each layer as formed differs from a previous or subsequent layer. In some embodiments, the thickness of each layer is the same. In some embodiments the thickness of each layer as formed is 50 micrometers (microns) to 500 micrometers (microns).
• the preset pattern can be determined from a three-dimensional digital representation of the desired article as is known in the art and described in further detail below.
• the fused layers of powder bed fused articles herein can be of any thickness suitable for selective laser sintered processing.
• the plurality of layers can be each, on average, preferably at least 50 micrometers (microns) thick, more preferably at least 80 microns thick, and even more preferably at least 100 micrometers (microns) thick.
• the plurality of sintered layers are each, on average, preferably less than 500 micrometers (microns) thick, more preferably less than 300 micrometers (microns) thick, and even more preferably less than 200 micrometers (microns) thick.
• the layers for some embodiments can be 50-500, 80-300, or 100-200 micrometers (microns) thick.
• Three-dimensional articles produced from powder compositions of the invention using a layer-by-layer powder bed fusing processes other than selective laser sintering can have layer thicknesses that are the same or different from those described above.
• amorphous polymers include polycarbonate polymers and polyetherimide polymers.
• Polycarbonate as used herein means a polymer or copolymer having repeating structural carbonate units of formula (1)
• each R 1 can be derived from a dihydroxy compound such as an aromatic dihydroxy compound of formula (2) or a bisphenol of formula (3).
• each R h is independently a halogen atom, for example bromine, a C1-10 hydrocarbyl group such as a C 1-10 alkyl, a halogen-substituted C 1-10 alkyl, a C 6-10 aryl, or a halogen-substituted C 6-10 aryl, and n is 0 to 4.
• R a and R b are each independently a halogen, C 1-12 alkoxy, or C 1-12 alkyl, and p and q are each independently integers of 0 to 4, such that when p or q is less than 4, the valence of each carbon of the ring is filled by hydrogen.
• p and q is each 0, or p and q is each 1
• R a and R b are each a C 1-3 alkyl group, specifically methyl, disposed meta to the hydroxy group on each arylene group.
• X a is a bridging group connecting the two hydroxy-substituted aromatic groups, where the bridging group and the hydroxy substituent of each C 6 arylene group are disposed ortho, meta, or para (specifically para) to each other on the C 6 arylene group, for example, a single bond, -O-, -S-, -S(O)-, - S(O) 2 -, -C(O)-, or a C 1-18 organic group, which can be cyclic or acyclic, aromatic or non- aromatic, and can further comprise heteroatoms such as halogens, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, or phosphorous.
• dihydroxy compounds that can be used are described, for example, in WO 2013/175448 A1, US 2014/0295363, and WO 2014/072923.
• Specific dihydroxy compounds include resorcinol, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (“bisphenol A” or“BPA”, in which in which each of A 1 and A 2 is p-phenylene and Y 1 is isopropylidene in formula (3)), 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimidine, 2-phenyl-3,3’- bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimidine (also known as N-phenyl phenolphthalein bisphenol, “PPPBP”, or 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3- methylphenyl)cyclohexane, and 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)-3,3,5- trimethylcyclohexane (isophorone bisphenol).
• BPA 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane
• BPA bisphenol A
• a 1 and A 2 is p-phenylene and
• Polycarbonate as used herein also includes copolymers comprising carbonate units and ester units (“poly(ester-carbonate)s”, also known as polyester- polycarbonates). Poly(ester-carbonate)s further contain, in addition to recurring carbonate chain units of formula (1), repeating ester units of formula (4)
• J is a divalent group derived from a dihydroxy compound (which includes a reactive derivative thereof), and can be, for example, a C 2-10 alkylene, a C 6-20 cycloalkylene a C 6-20 arylene, or a polyoxyalkylene group in which the alkylene groups contain 2 to 6 carbon atoms, specifically, 2, 3, or 4 carbon atoms; and T is a divalent group derived from a dicarboxylic acid (which includes a reactive derivative thereof), and can be, for example, a C 2-20 alkylene, a C 6-20 cycloalkylene, or a C 6-20 arylene.
• Copolyesters containing a combination of different T or J groups can be used.
• the polyester units can be branched or linear.
• Specific dihydroxy compounds include aromatic dihydroxy compounds of formula (2) (e.g., resorcinol), bisphenols of formula (3) (e.g., bisphenol A), a C 1-8 aliphatic diol such as ethane diol, n-propane diol, i-propane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,6-cyclohexane diol, 1,6-hydroxymethylcyclohexane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing dihydroxy compounds.
• aromatic dihydroxy compounds of formula (2) e.g., resorcinol
• bisphenols of formula (3) e.g., bisphenol A
• a C 1-8 aliphatic diol such as ethane diol, n-propane diol, i-propane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,6-cyclohexane diol, 1,6-hydroxymethylcyclohexane,
• Aliphatic dicarboxylic acids that can be used include C 6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (which includes the terminal carboxyl groups), specifically linear C 8-12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid such as decanedioic acid (sebacic acid); and alpha, omega-C 12 dicarboxylic acids such as dodecanedioic acid (DDDA).
• Aromatic dicarboxylic acids that can be used include terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, 1,6- cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing acids.
• a combination of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid wherein the weight ratio of isophthalic acid to terephthalic acid is 91:9 to 2:98 can be used.
• ester units include ethylene terephthalate units, n-propylene terephthalate units, n-butylene terephthalate units, ester units derived from isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, and resorcinol (ITR ester units), and ester units derived from sebacic acid and bisphenol A.
• the molar ratio of ester units to carbonate units in the poly(ester- carbonate)s can vary broadly, for example 1:99 to 99:1, specifically, 10:90 to 90:10, more specifically, 25:75 to 75:25, or from 2:98 to 15:85.
• the polycarbonates can have an intrinsic viscosity, as determined in chloroform at 25° C, of 0.3 to 1.5 deciliters per gram (dl/gm), specifically 0.45 to 1.0 dl/gm.
• the polycarbonates can have a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 200,000 Daltons, specifically 15,000 to 100,000 Daltons, as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), using a crosslinked styrene-divinylbenzene column and calibrated to polycarbonate references.
• GPC samples are prepared at a concentration of 1 mg per ml, and are eluted at a flow rate of 1.5 ml per minute.
• polyetherimide is used herein to mean a compound comprising more than 1, for example 2 to 1000, or 5 to 500, or 10 to 100 structural units of formula (5)
• each R is independently the same or different, and is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent organic group, such as a substituted or unsubstituted C 6-20 aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight or branched chain C4-20 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3-8 cycloalkylene group, in particular a halogenated derivative of any of the foregoing.
• R is divalent group of one or more of the following formulas (6)
• R is m-phenylene, p-phenylene, or a diarylene sulfone, in particular bis(4,4’-phenylene)sulfone, bis(3,4’-phenylene)sulfone, bis(3,3’-phenylene)sulfone, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
• R groups contain sulfone groups, and in other embodiments no R groups contain sulfone groups.
• the divalent bonds of the -O-Z-O- group are in the 3,3', 3,4', 4,3', or the 4,4' positions, and Z is an aromatic C 6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic moiety optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C 1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, provided that the valence of Z is not exceeded.
• Exemplary groups Z include groups of formula (7)
• R a and R b are each independently the same or different, and are a halogen atom or a monovalent C 1-6 alkyl group, for example; p and q are each independently integers of 0 to 4; c is 0 to 4; and X a is a bridging group connecting the hydroxy-substituted aromatic groups, where the bridging group and the hydroxy substituent of each C 6 arylene group are disposed ortho, meta, or para (specifically para) to each other on the C 6 arylene group.
• the bridging group X a can be a single bond, -O-, -S-, -S(O)-, -S(O) 2 -, -C(O)-, or a C 1-18 organic bridging group.
• the C 1-18 organic bridging group can be cyclic or acyclic, aromatic or non-aromatic, and can further comprise heteroatoms such as halogens, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, or phosphorous.
• the C 1-18 organic group can be disposed such that the C 6 arylene groups connected thereto are each connected to a common alkylidene carbon or to different carbons of the C 1-18 organic bridging group.
• a specific example of a group Z is a divalent group of formula (7a)
• Q is -O-, -S-, -C(O)-, -SO 2 -, -SO-, or -C y H 2y - wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5 or a halogenated derivative thereof (including a perfluoroalkylene group).
• Z is a derived from bisphenol A, such that Q in formula (3a) is 2,2- isopropylidene.
• R is m-phenylene, p-phenylene, or a combination comprising at least one of the forgoing, and T is–O-Z-O- wherein Z is a divalent group of formula (7a).
• R is m-phenylene, p-phenylene, or a combination comprising at least one of the forgoing, and T is–O-Z-O wherein Z is a divalent group of formula (7a) and Q is 2,2-isopropylidene.
• the polyetherimide can be a copolymer optionally comprising additional structural polyetherimide units, for example imide units of formula (5) wherein R is as described in formula (5) wherein at least 50 mole percent % (mol%) of the R groups are bis(3,4’-phenylene)sulfone, bis(3,3’- phenylene)sulfone, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing and the remaining R groups are p-phenylene, or m-phenylene or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and Z is 2,2-(4-phenylene)isopropylidene, i.e., a bisphenol A moiety.
• R is as described in formula (5) wherein at least 50 mole percent % (mol%) of the R groups are bis(3,4’-phenylene)sulfone, bis(3,3’- phenylene)sulfone, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing and the remaining R groups
• the polyetherimide is a copolymer that optionally comprises additional structural imide units that are not polyetherimide units, for example imide units of formula (8)
• R is as described in formula (5) and each V is the same or different, and is a substituted or unsubstituted C 6-20 aromatic hydrocarbon group, for example, T is a tetravalent wherein W is a single bond, -S-, -C(O)-, -SO 2 -, -SO-, or -C y H 2y - wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5 or a halogenated derivative thereof (which includes perfluoroalkylene groups).
• additional structural imide units preferably comprise less than 20 mol% of the total number of units, and more preferably can be present in amounts of 0 to 10 mol% of the total number of units, or 0 to 5 mol% of the total number of units, or 0 to 2 mole % of the total number of units. In some embodiments, no additional imide units are present in the polyetherimide.
• the polyetherimide can be prepared by any of the methods well known to those skilled in the art, including the reaction of an aromatic bis(ether anhydride) of formula (9)
• Copolymers of the polyetherimides can be manufactured using a combination of an aromatic bis(ether anhydride) of formula (9) and an additional bis(anhydride) that is not a bis(ether anhydride), for example, pyromelletic dianhydride or bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) sulfone dianhydride.
• aromatic bis(ether anhydride)s include 2,2-bis[4-(3,4- dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride (also known as bisphenol A dianhydride or BPADA), 3,3-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride; 4,4'-bis(3,4- dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride; 4,4'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride; 4,4'-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzophenone dianhydride; 4,4'-bis(3,4- dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride; 4,4'-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride; 4,4'-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride; 4,
• organic diamines examples include 1,4-butane diamine, 1,5- pentanediamine, 1,6-hexanediamine, 1,7-heptanediamine, 1,8-octanediamine, 1,9- nonanediamine, 1,10-decanediamine, 1,12-dodecanediamine, 1,18-octadecanediamine, 3- methylheptamethylenediamine, 4,4-dimethylheptamethylenediamine, 4- methylnonamethylenediamine, 5-methylnonamethylenediamine, 2,5- dimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,5-dimethylheptamethylenediamine, 2, 2- dimethylpropylenediamine, N-methyl-bis (3-aminopropyl) amine, 3- methoxyhexamethylenediamine, 1,2-bis(3-aminopropoxy) ethane, bis(3-aminopropyl) sulfide, 1,4-cyclohexanediamine, bis-(
• any regioisomer of the foregoing compounds can be used.
• C 1-4 alkylated or poly(C 1- 4 )alkylated derivatives of any of the foregoing can be used, for example a polymethylated 1,6-hexanediamine. Combinations of these compounds can also be used.
• the organic diamine is m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, 4,4 ⁇ - diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 3,4 ⁇ -diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 3,3 ⁇ -diaminodiphenyl sulfone, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
• the polyetherimides can have a melt index of 0.1 to 10 grams per minute (g/min), as measured by American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) D1238 at 340 to 370 °C, using a 6.7 kilogram (kg) weight.
• the polyetherimide has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1,000 to 150,000 grams/mole (Dalton), as measured by gel permeation chromatography, using polystyrene standards.
• Mw weight average molecular weight
• the polyetherimide has an Mw of 10,000 to 80,000 Daltons.
• polyetherimide polymers can have an intrinsic viscosity greater than 0.2 deciliters per gram (dl/g), or, more specifically, 0.35 to 0.7 dl/g as measured in m-cresol at 25°C.
• thermoplastic“polyetherimide” composition can also comprise a poly(siloxane-etherimide) copolymer comprising polyetherimide units of formula (1) and siloxane blocks of formula (11).
• each R’ is independently a C 1-13 monovalent hydrocarbyl group.
• each R’ can independently be a C 1-13 alkyl group, C 1-13 alkoxy group, C 2-13 alkenyl group, C 2-13 alkenyloxy group, C 3-6 cycloalkyl group, C 3-6 cycloalkoxy group, C 6-14 aryl group, C 6-10 aryloxy group, C 7-13 arylalkyl group, C 7-13 arylalkoxy group, C 7-13 alkylaryl group, or C 7-13 alkylaryloxy group.
• the foregoing groups can be fully or partially halogenated with fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. In an embodiment no bromine or chlorine is present, and in another embodiment no halogens are present. Combinations of the foregoing R groups can be used in the same copolymer.
• the polysiloxane blocks comprises R’ groups that have minimal hydrocarbon content. In a specific embodiment, an R’ group with a minimal hydrocarbon content is a methyl group
• the poly (siloxane-etherimide)s can be formed by polymerization of an aromatic bisanhydride (9) and a diamine component comprising an organic diamine (10) as described above or mixture of diamines, and a polysiloxane diamine of formula (12) (12) wherein R’ and E are as described in formula (11), and R 4 is each independently a C 2 -C 20 hydrocarbon, in particular a C 2 -C 20 arylene, alkylene, or arylenealkylene group.
• R 4 is a C2-C20 alkyl group, specifically a C2-C20 alkyl group such as propylene, and E has an average value of 5 to 100, 5 to 75, 5 to 60, 5 to 15, or 15 to 40.
• Procedures for making the polysiloxane diamines of formula (12) are well known in the art.
• the diamine component can contain 10 to 90 mole percent (mol %), or 20 to 50 mol%, or 25 to 40 mol% of polysiloxane diamine (12) and 10 to 90 mol%, or 50 to 80 mol%, or 60 to 75 mol% of diamine (10), for example as described in US Patent 4,404,350.
• the diamine components can be physically mixed prior to reaction with the bisanhydride(s), thus forming a substantially random copolymer.
• block or alternating copolymers can be formed by selective reaction of (10) and (12) with aromatic bis(ether anhydrides (9), to make polyimide blocks that are subsequently reacted together.
• the poly(siloxane-imide) copolymer can be a block, random, or graft copolymer.
• poly(siloxane-etherimide) examples of specific poly(siloxane-etherimide) are described in US Pat. Nos. 4,404,350, 4,808,686, and 4,690,997.
• the poly(siloxane-etherimide) has units of formula (9)
• R’ and E of the siloxane are as in formula (9), the R and Z of the imide are as in formula (5), R 4 is the same as R 4 as in formula (12), and n is an integer from 5 to 100.
• the R of the etherimide is a phenylene
• Z is a residue of bisphenol A
• R 4 is n-propylene
• E is 2 to 50, 5, to 30, or 10 to 40
• n is 5 to 100
• each R’ of the siloxane is methyl.
• the relative amount of polysiloxane units and etherimide units in the poly(siloxane-etherimide) depends on the desired properties, and are selected using the guidelines provided herein.
• poly(siloxane-etherimide) copolymer is selected to have a certain average value of E, and is selected and used in amount effective to provide the desired wt% of polysiloxane units in the composition.
• the poly(siloxane-etherimide) comprises 10 to 50 wt%, 10 to 40 wt%, or 20 to 35 wt% polysiloxane units, based on the total weight of the poly(siloxane- etherimide).
• hydrocarbyl includes groups containing carbon, hydrogen, and optionally one or more heteroatoms (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4 atoms such as halogen, O, N, S, P, or Si).
• heteroatoms e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4 atoms such as halogen, O, N, S, P, or Si.
• Alkyl means a branched or straight chain, saturated, monovalent hydrocarbon group, e.g., methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, and n-butyl.
• Alkylene means a straight or branched chain, saturated, divalent hydrocarbon group (e.g., methylene (-CH 2 -) or propylene (-(CH 2 ) 3 -)).
• “Alkynyl” means a straight or branched chain, monovalent hydrocarbon group having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (e.g., ethynyl).
• Alkoxy means an alkyl group linked via an oxygen (i.e., alkyl-O-), for example methoxy, ethoxy, and sec-butyloxy.
• “Cycloalkyl” and“cycloalkylene” mean a monovalent and divalent
• “Arylene” means a divalent aryl group.“Alkylarylene” means an arylene group substituted with an alkyl group.“Arylalkylene” means an alkylene group substituted with an aryl group (e.g., benzyl).
• the prefix “halo” means a group or compound including one more halogen (F, Cl, Br, or I) substituents, which can be the same or different.
• the prefix“hetero” means a group or compound that includes at least one ring member that is a heteroatom (e.g., 1, 2, or 3 heteroatoms, wherein each heteroatom is independently N, O, S, or P.
• polycarbonate can be made from a ground amorphous polymer powder by immersing that powder in a solvent such as acetone or the like. The solvent immersion causes the crystallization of the polymer chains. After separating out the solvent, these crystalline polymer chains are dried by heat with or without vacuum. The dried crystalline polymer chains can be ground again to a particle size of 10 micrometers (microns) to 500 micrometers (microns). These ground crystalline polymers can then be used directly in a powder bed fusing step, or can first be mixed with other polymer powders (either another crystalline polymer or an amorphous polymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing) or additives such as those listed below.
• very fine crystalline polycarbonate particles such as those described in Examples 57-60 of European Patent Application No. EP0376653 (A2) can be used.
• SLS selective laser sintering
• a part from a fusible powder can be used herein, and in particular for fabricating the part from fusible crystalline polycarbonate powder.
• SLS systems are well known.
• one thin layer of PC powder is spread over the sintering chamber in the selective laser sintering (SLS) system.
• a laser beam traces the computer-controlled pattern, corresponding to the cross- section slice of the CAD model, to melt the powders selectively which has been preheated to slightly below its melting temperature.
• the powder bed piston below the sintering chamber is lowered with a predetermined increment (typically 100 ⁇ m), and another layer of powder is spread over the previous sintered layer by a leveling roller.
• This new layer of powder can be supplied by raising a piston below one or more powder cartridges adjacent to the sintering chamber by a predetermined increment The process then repeats as the laser melts and fuses each successive layer to the previous layer until the entire part is completed.
• a crystalline polymer such as a polyetherimide can be made by reacting its precursors in a suitable solvent such as ortho-dichlorobenzene and then separating insoluble reactive polyimide from the reaction solution to form a reactive friable polyimide powder.
• this reactive friable polyimide powder can be ground and was then found to exhibit crystallinity.
• ground crystalline polymers can then be used directly in a powder bed fusing step, or can first be mixed with other polymer powders (either another crystalline polymer or an amorphous polymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing) or additives such as those listed below.
• an amorphous ultrafine, spherical thermoplastic polymer powder having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 150 °C polymer powder was made.
• This amorphous ultrafine, spherical thermoplastic polymer can be converted into a crystalline polymer by immersing that powder in a solvent such as acetone or the like. The solvent immersion causes the crystallization of the polymer chains, resulting in an ultrafine, spherical crystalline polymer powder. After separating out the solvent, this crystalline polymer powder is dried by heat with or without vacuum.
• This ultrafine, spherical crystalline polymer powder can then be used directly in a powder bed fusing step, or can first be mixed with other polymer powders (either another crystalline polymers or an amorphous polymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing) or additives such as those listed below.
• the powder composition used in the powder bed fusing step comprises between 50 to 100% by weight of the at least one at least partially crystalline powder, based on the weight of polymeric materials in the powder.
• the powder composition can contain a colorant or a process aid or other additives such as those listed below.
• this powder composition can optionally contain a flow agent.
• a thermoplastic composition of the present invention contains 0%, preferably 0.01%, to 5%, and more preferably 0.05% to 1%, by weight of a particulate flow agent.
• the powder composition contains 0.1% to 0.25%, by weight, of the flow agent.
• This optional flow agent included in the powder composition is a particulate inorganic material having a median particle size of 10 microns or less, and is chosen from the group consisting of a hydrated silica, amorphous alumina, a glassy silica, a glassy phosphate, a glassy borate, a glassy oxide, titania, talc, mica, a fumed silica, kaolin, attapulgite, calcium silicate, alumina, and magnesium silicate.
• the flow agent preferably is present in an amount sufficient to allow the polyetherimide to flow and level on the build surface of the laser sintering device.
• One useful flow agent is fumed silica.
• a powder composition also can contain other optional ingredients.
• optional ingredients are particulate materials and include organic and inorganic materials, such as fillers and coloring agents.
• An optional ingredient is present in a sufficient amount to perform its intended function, without adversely affecting the thermoplastic composition or an article prepared therefrom.
• Optional ingredients have a particle size in the range of the particle sizes of the polymer powder or optional flow agent. Each optional ingredient is milled, if necessary, to the desired median particle size and particle size distribution.
• the total amount of optional ingredients in the powder composition ranges from 0% up to 30%, by weight.
• each optional ingredient melts during the laser sintering process.
• each optional ingredient must be compatible with the crystalline polymer in order to provide a strong and durable article of manufacture.
• the optional ingredient therefore, can be inorganic, filler that imparts additional strength to the article of manufacture.
• Another optional ingredient is a coloring agent, for example a pigment or a dye, like carbon black, to impart a desired color to the article of manufacture.
• the coloring agent is not limited, as long as the coloring agent does not adversely affect the composition or an article prepared therefrom, and is sufficiently stable to retain its color under conditions of the laser sintering process and during exposure to the laser.
• Still other additional optional ingredients can also include, for example, toners, extenders, fillers, colorants (e.g., pigments and dyes), lubricants, anticorrosion agents, thixotropic agents, dispersing agents, antioxidants, adhesion promoters, light stabilizers, organic solvents, surfactants, flame retardants, anti-static agents, plasticizers a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
• colorants e.g., pigments and dyes
• lubricants e.g., anticorrosion agents, thixotropic agents, dispersing agents, antioxidants, adhesion promoters, light stabilizers, organic solvents, surfactants, flame retardants, anti-static agents, plasticizers a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
• Still another optional ingredient also can be a second polymer that modifies the properties of the crystalline polycarbonate or polyetherimide powder.
• the crystalline polycarbonate or polyetherimide powders used herein can have certain characteristics. They can have a glass transition temperature of more than 100° C. and less than 350° C., more particular, they can have a glass transition temperature of more than 200° C. and less than 300° C. In some
• the commercially available ULTEM polyether imide has a Tg of 215 °C. They can have optionally comprises 1 to 20 weight percent of one or more amorphous polymer powder. They can have a weight average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 150,000 Daltons. Each powder can be monomodal and have a mean particle size of 10 to 100 microns. The powder can have a bulk density of greater than 0.4 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc).
• PC Polycarbonate
• SIRC solvent induced crystallization
• ground PC number average particle size 234 microns
• acetone was removed and the resulting ground PC powder, which becomes agglomerated, was dried overnight.
• the crystallized PC was ground yet another time and the final powder (number average particle size of 247 microns) was sieved (number average particle size 41 microns) in order to get fine powder that can be used in an SLS process.
• any selective laser sintering (SLS) system for fabricating a part from a fusible powder, and in particular for fabricating the part from fusible crystalline polycarbonate powder.
• SLS selective laser sintering
• one thin layer of PC powder can be spread over the sintering chamber.
• the laser beam traces the computer-controlled pattern, corresponding to the cross-section slice of the CAD model, to melt the powders selectively which has been preheated to slightly below its melting temperature.
• the powder bed piston is lowered with a predetermined increment (typically 100 ⁇ m), and another layer of powder is spread over the previous sintered layer by a roller.
• the process then repeats as the laser melts and fuses each successive layer to the previous layer until the entire part is completed.
• Polyetherimide was made from the condensation reaction between an aromatic dianhydride and an aromatic diamine.
• equimolar amounts of bis-phenol A dianhydride and para-phenylene diamine were reacted in ortho-dichlorobenzene solvent, and the resulting polyetherimide polymer precipitated from the solvent.
• the precipitated polymer powder was filtered and dried to remove the solvent. That powder was friable and was mechanically ground to form 15 micron mean particle size powder. The powder exhibited crystallinity.
• a first heating cycle an exotherm around 275.25°C was seen which is attributed to be the melting point. This first heating cycle do not show any glass transition temperature.
• Embodiment 1 A method of making an article, the method comprising converting a first amorphous polymer to an at least partially crystalline polymeric powder composition and powder bed fusing the at least partially crystalline polymer powder composition to form a three-dimensional article comprising a second amorphous polymer.
• Embodiment 2 The method of Embodiment 1, wherein the crystallization process is solvent induced crystallization.
• Embodiment 3 The method of Embodiment 1, wherein the crystallization process is vapor induced crystallization.
• Embodiment 4 The method of Embodiment 1, wherein the crystallization process is plasticizer or nucleating agent (organic or inorganic) induced crystallization.
• Embodiment 5 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the powder bed fusing is selective laser sintering.
• Embodiment 6 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the first amorphous polymer is an amorphous polycarbonate polymer powder.
• Embodiment 7 The method of Embodiment 6, wherein at least partially crystalline polycarbonate polymeric powder composition is made by a solvent induced crystallization process comprising immersing the first amorphous polycarbonate polymer powder in an organic solvent capable of transforming the amorphous polycarbonate polymer into a crystalline polycarbonate polymer; removing the organic solvent from the at least partially crystalline polycarbonate polymeric powder; and recovering at least partially crystalline polycarbonate powder mean particle size of 10 to 100 microns.
• Embodiment 8 The method of Embodiment 7, wherein the solvent is acetone.
• Embodiment 9 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the first amorphous polymer is an amorphous polyetherimide polymer.
• Embodiment 10 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein 80% to 100% by weight of the first amorphous polymer is converted to the crystalline polymer;
• Embodiment 11 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 10, further comprising adding a flow agent or to the at least partially crystalline powder composition.
• Embodiment 12 The method of Embodiment 11, wherein the flow agent is a hydrated silica, amorphous alumina, a glassy silica, a glassy phosphate, a glassy borate, a glassy oxide, titania, talc, mica, a fumed silica, kaolin, attapulgite, calcium silicate, alumina, and magnesium silicate or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
• the flow agent is a hydrated silica, amorphous alumina, a glassy silica, a glassy phosphate, a glassy borate, a glassy oxide, titania, talc, mica, a fumed silica, kaolin, attapulgite, calcium silicate, alumina, and magnesium silicate or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
• Embodiment 13 The method of any of Embodiments 11-12, wherein the amount of flow agent is 0.05% to 5% of the at least partially crystalline polymeric powder composition.
• Embodiment 14 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 13, further comprising applying size reduction techniques to the first amorphous polymer to an average particle size of 10 microns to 200 microns before converting the amorphous polymer to the crystalline polymer powder composition.
• Embodiment 15 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 13, further comprising applying size reduction techniques the crystalline polymer powder composition to reduce an average particle size of 10 microns to 100 microns before powder bed fusing the crystalline polymer powder composition.
• Embodiment 16 The method of any of Embodiments 1 to 15, further comprising adding optional ingredients including, toners, extenders, fillers, colorants, lubricants, anticorrosion agents, thixotropic agents, dispersing agents, antioxidants, adhesion promoters, light stabilizers, organic solvents, surfactants, flame retardants, anti-static agents, plasticizers and mixtures thereof to the crystalline polymer powder composition .
• optional ingredients including, toners, extenders, fillers, colorants, lubricants, anticorrosion agents, thixotropic agents, dispersing agents, antioxidants, adhesion promoters, light stabilizers, organic solvents, surfactants, flame retardants, anti-static agents, plasticizers and mixtures thereof to the crystalline polymer powder composition .
• Embodiment 17 A three-dimensional second amorphous polymer article resulting from the method of any of the Embodiments 1-14.
• Embodiment 18 The article of Embodiment 17, wherein the second amorphous polymer is polycarbonate.
• Embodiment 19 The article of Embodiment 17, wherein the second amorphous polymer is polyetherimide.
• Embodiment 20 An article comprising a plurality of fused layers, wherein at least one of the layers of the second amorphous polymer comprises transparent amorphous polycarbonate or polyetherimide.
• compositions, methods, and articles, and claims can alternately comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, any appropriate components herein disclosed.
• the compositions, methods, and articles can additionally, or alternatively, be formulated so as to be devoid, or substantially free, of any components, materials, ingredients, adjuvants or species used in the prior art compositions or that are otherwise not necessary to the achievement of the function or objectives of the claims.

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