Victrex Manufacturing Limited

Alice Victoria Mary Matthews

Adam Chaplin

Brian Wilson

Richard Luke Ainsworth

Carlo Capra

Carlie Ann Beardsall

Alan Wood

A polymeric material has a repeat unit of formula &#x2014;O-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph- I and a repeat unit of formula &#x2014;O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph- II wherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety; wherein the repeat units I and II are in the relative molar properties I:II of from 65:35 to 95:5; wherein log(X %)&#x3e;1.50-0.26 MV; wherein X % refers to the % crystallinity measured as described in Example 31 and MV refers to the melt viscosity measured as described in Example 30. A process for making the polymeric material comprises polycondensing a mixture of at least one dihydroxybenzene compound and at least one dihydroxybiphenyl compound in the molar proportions 65:35 to 95:5 with at least one dihalobenzophenone in the presence of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate wherein: (i) the mole % of said potassium carbonate is at least 2.5 and/or (ii) the following relationship applies 

Polymeric materials

A polymeric material has a repeat unit of formula &#x2014;O-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-I and a repeat unit of formula &#x2014;O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph-II wherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety; wherein the repeat units I and II are in the relative molar properties I:II of from 65:35 to 95:5; wherein log(X %)&#x3e;1.50-0.26 MV; wherein X % refers to the % crystallinity and MV refers to the melt viscosity. A process for making the polymeric material is also disclosed.

A process for manufacturing an object by laser sintering comprises: (i) selecting a powder comprising a polymeric material having a repeat unit of formula&#x2014;O&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;O&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;CO&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;&#x2003;&#x2003;Iand a repeat unit of formula&#x2014;O&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;O&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;CO&#x2014;Ph&#x2014;&#x2003;&#x2003;IIwherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety; and (ii) selectively sintering the powder to produce the object. It is found that the polymer used can be advantageously recycled and blended with virgin material to produce a blend which has very similar mechanical properties and crystallinity compared to the virgin material. Thus, the polymer may be cost-effectively used in laser sintering.

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Lancashire, United Kingdom

Alice Victoria Mary Matthews