Stratasys, Inc.

Lifoam Industries, LLC

Saco Polymers, Inc.

Kent Kaske

Jeffrey Jacob Cernohous

Greggory S Bennett

Adam R Pawloski

Luke M B Rodgers

Jiayi Zhu

David Geraint Roberts

Garrett Scott Van Gorden

Theresa Sherar

Gregory S Bennett

Adam E Szymanski

A support material for use in an additive manufacturing system, which includes a thermoplastic copolymer polymerized from monomers comprising acid-functional monomers having carboxylic acid groups, and one or more non-acid-functional monomers, where a portion of the carboxylic acid groups are neutralized with a base having an alkali metal cation. The thermoplastic copolymer has a high glass transition temperature and melt processing temperature, and is thermally stable at its melt processing temperature. The neutralized thermoplastic copolymer is soluble in an alkaline aqueous solution.

High-temperature soluble support material for additive manufacturing

The present invention describes compostable or biobased foams that are useful for fabricating foamed articles and methods for producing the same. The foams are produced using a compound comprising a compostable or biobased polyester and a blowing agent. Additives including plasticizers and chain extenders are optionally included in the compostable or biobased composition. These foams can be produced using conventional melt processing techniques, such as single and twin-screw extrusion processes. In one embodiment, foamed strand profiles are cooled and cut using conventional strand pelletizing equipment. In another embodiment, foamed beads are produced by cutting the foamed strand at the face of the extrusion die and the foamed bead or strand is subsequently cooled. The resulting compostable or biobased foamed bead has a specific gravity less than 0.15 g/cmand the foam is compostable, as determined by ASTM D6400.

Compostable or biobased foams

The deposition of graphene is accomplished by various techniques that result in a change of the graphene's solubility in the liquid medium. The solubility change enables the deposition of the graphene onto the substrate. Once the graphene is deposited onto the substrate, the at least partially coated substrate may be separated from the liquid medium. The substrates may then serve as a carrier to deliver the graphene to a desired application.

Graphene coated substrates and resulting composites

A substrate having a flame retardant polymer chemically bonded to at least a portion of the substrate. The use of a substrate possessing at least a partially coated outer surface of a flame retardant polymer enables the manufacturing of polymer composites, containing the coated substrate, that possess very effective flame retardant performance while reducing the loading levels over conventional flame retardant additives.

Flame retardant compositions

The present invention enables the secondary expansion of lightweight foamed beads. The foamed beads are produced using a compound comprising a compostable or biobased polyester and a physical blowing agent as well as a chemical blowing agent. Secondary expansion can be used either to lower the density of the foamed bead further or to enable expansion of the beads during molding to promote fusion. The foam beads can be produced using conventional melt processing techniques, such as single and twin-screw extrusion processes.

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Kent Kaske