Color-changing particulate compositions for additive manufacturing and methods associated therewith

Abstract

Additive manufacturing processes, such as powder bed fusion of thermoplastic particulates, may be employed to form printed objects in a range of shapes. Formation of printed objects having various colors may sometimes be desirable. Thermoplastic particulates incorporating a color-changing material capable of forming different colors under specified activation conditions may impart different colors to a printed object. Such particulate compositions may comprise a plurality of thermoplastic particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a color-changing material associated with the thermoplastic particulates, wherein the color-changing material is photochromic and thermochromic. Conjugated diynes, such as 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid or a derivative thereof, may be particularly suitable color-changing materials having photochromic and thermochromic properties for forming a range of colors upon a printed object. Nanoparticles, particularly silica nanoparticles, associated with an outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates may enhance the brightness of the color obtained under various activation conditions and afford coloration permanence.