Eos Gmbh Electro Optical Systems

Arkema France

Andreas Pfister

Martin Leuterer

Frank Mueller

Mandy Gersch

Peter Keller

Frank Müller

Verena Galitz

Brian Wilson

Alan Wood

Nadine Decraemer

Horst Sandner

Andreas Hotter

Frank Muller

Daniel Froehlich

Benoît Brulé

Daniel Fröhlich

Sybille Fischer

Karl Freihart

Sabine Tutzschky

The invention relates to a pulverulent composition comprising a powder based on at least one polyaryl ether ketone, said composition having at least a first endothermic peak and a second endothermic peak, the first endothermic peak having a peak temperature strictly greater than 280° C., and the second endothermic peak having a peak temperature equal to a value of 200° C. to 280° C.; the endothermic peaks are measured on a thermogram obtained by differential scanning calorimetry, according to the standard ISO 11357-3: 2018, on first heating, using a temperature ramp of 20° C./minute. The invention also relates to a method for the electromagnetic radiation-mediated layer-by-layer sintering construction of a three-dimensional object from the pulverulent composition, to a method for determining the minimum construction temperature to be used, and also to objects that may be manufactured via this construction process.

Pulverulent composition based on PAEK(s), sintering construction process and object derived therefrom

A method for producing a powder comprising at least one polymer for use in a method for the additive manufacture of a three-dimensional object is described. The method includes the step of mechanically treating the powder in a mixer with at least one rotating mixing blade, wherein the powder is exposed to a temperature Tand Tis at least 30° C. and is below the melting point Tof the polymer (determined according to DIN EN ISO 11357) if the polymer is a semi-crystalline polymer, or wherein Tis at least 30° C. and wherein Tis at most 50° C. above the glass transition temperature Tof the polymer (determined according to DIN EN ISO 11357) if the polymer is a melt-amorphous polymer. Compared to a time before the start of the treatment, it may be achieved that after the treatment, the bulk density of the powder is increased by at least 10% (or in the case of polymer, copolymer or polymer blend of polyamide at least 2% and more) and the BET surface area is decreased by at least 10%, and optionally also the pourability is improved by at least 10%.

Method for producing a powder comprising at least one polymer and such a type of powder

A process for producing a three-dimensional object by selectively layer-by-layer solidification of a powdery material layer at the locations corresponding to the cross-section of the object in a respective layer by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The powdery material comprises at least one polymer which is obtainable from its melt only in substantially amorphous or completely amorphous form, or a polyblend which is obtainable from its melt only in substantially amorphous or completely amorphous form. The powdery material has a specific melting enthalpy of at least 1 J/g.

Process for producing a three-dimensional object

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selectively solidifying layers of a powdery material () at the locations corresponding to the cross-section of the object () in the respective layers by impact of electromagnetic radiation () is provided, where in a plastic powder, preferably polyamide, is used as powder, wherein the non-solidified powder (') is subjected to a treatment by water or water vapour at increased temperatures after manufacturing the object, subsequently dried and thereafter used again to build-up a new object.

Method and device of layerwise manufacturing a three-dimensional object of a powdery material

A three-dimensional object is manufactured by selective sintering by means of electromagnetic radiation, wherein the powder comprises a polymer or copolymer having at least one of the following structural characteristics:

Selective sintering of structurally modified polymers

A polyamide powder is disclosed for use in a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selectively solidifying layers of the polyamide powder at the locations corresponding to the cross-section of the object in the respective layer by application of electromagnetic radiation. The polyamide powder of the invention is reclaimed after manufacturing of an object and, then is treated with water or water vapor and subsequently dried. After treatment, the powder preferably can have a molar weight Mn (numeric average) of more than about 20,000 g/mol and a Mw (weight average) of more than about 40,000 g/mol. Also, the powder preferably has an excess of carboxylic end groups relative to amino end groups of at least 4:1 up to at most 200:1.

A method for a layer-wise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object has a first step of providing a layer of a material in powder form or a liquid material on a support or a layer that has already been solidified at selected positions previously and a second step of directing a focussed photon or particle beam (') selectively at selected positions of the layer. In the second step, the photon or particle beam is selected such that it brings about a change of the absorption of the material when hitting the layer. After the termination of the second step, a third step is carried out, in which the layer is irradiated by means of electromagnetic radiation (&#x2032;) such that the material is homogenously solidified at those positions of the layer that correspond to the cross-section of the object to be formed.

Method for a layer-wise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object

A three-dimensional object is manufactured from a powder of polymer material by selective sintering process by means of electromagnetic radiation of the powder, wherein the powder comprises a preselected polymer or copolymer and is subjected to selective sintering such that the manufactured three-dimensional object has a final crystallinity which is in such a range that the balance of properties, in particular mechanical properties including Young's modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break, is improved.

Influencing specific mechanical properties of three-dimensional objects manufactured by a selective sintering by means of electromagnetic radiation from a powder comprising at least one polymer or copolymer

By a temper treatment a polyaryletherketone powder is processed such that it is particularly suited for the use in a method for a layer-wise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object. To this effect the powder is tempered at a temperature that is at least 20&#xb0; C. above the glass transition temperature for at least 30 minutes before it is used as building material.

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Munich, Germany

Andreas Pfister