Abstract: Methods for producing highly spherical particles that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) nanoclay-filled-polymer composite comprising a nanoclay dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not filled with a nanoclay, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, to disperse the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form nanoclay-filled-polymer particles; and separating the nanoclay-filled-polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: Compositions include a plurality of polymer particulates comprising a matrix polymer and one or more types of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of biopolymer nanoparticles, biomineral nanoparticles excluding biomineralized silica alone, and any combination thereof. Illustrative examples of such nanoparticles may include cellulose nanoparticles, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, or any combination thereof associated with the matrix polymer. The polymer particulates may be prepared by melt emulsification. Methods include depositing such polymer particulates in a powder bed; and heating a portion of the powder bed to consolidate a portion of the polymer particulates into a consolidated part having a specified shape. The matrix polymer may be biodegradable and lose at least about 40% mass in six days in a phosphate buffer solution (0.2 M, pH 7.0) containing 0.2 mg/mL of lipase obtained from Pseudomonas cepacia (?30 U/mg) and incubated at 37° C.

Abstract: A nonlimiting example method for synthesizing a pigment-pendent polyamide (PP-polyamide) may comprise: functionalizing metal oxide particles bound to a pigment particle with a compound having an epoxy to produce a surface treated pigment having a pendent epoxy; and reacting the pendent epoxy with a polyamide to yield the PP-polyamide. Another nonlimiting example method for synthesizing a PP-polyamide may comprise: functionalizing metal oxide particles bound to a pigment particle with a silica particle having a carboxylic acid surface treatment to produce a surface treated pigment having a pendent carboxylic acid; converting the pendent carboxylic acid to a pendent acid chloride; and reacting the pendent acid chloride with a polyamide to yield the PP-polyamide.

Abstract: High spherical particles for use in piezoelectric applications may be produced mixing a mixture comprising a graphene oxide-polyvinylidene fluoride (GO-PVDF) composite, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the PVDF, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature equal to or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the PVDF to disperse the GO-PVDF composite in the carrier fluid, wherein the GO-PVDF composite has a transmission FTIR minimum transmittance ratio of ?-phase PVDF to ?-phase PVDF of about 1 or less; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the PVDF to form GO-PVDF particles; and separating the GO-PVDF particles from the carrier fluid, wherein the GO-PVDF particles comprise the graphene oxide dispersed in the PVDF, and wherein the GO-PVDF particles have a transmission FTIR minimum transmittance ratio of ?-phase PVDF to ?-phase PVDF of about 1 or less.

Abstract: Highly spherical particles may comprise a thermoplastic polymer grafted to a carbon nanomaterial (CNM-g-polymer), wherein the particles have an aerated density of about 0.5 g/cm3 (preferably about 0.55 g/cm3) to about 0.8 g/cm3. Said CNM-g-polymer particles may be useful in a variety of applications including selective laser sintering additive manufacturing methods.

Abstract: Methods include dissolving a polyoxymethylene (POM) homopolymer or copolymer in one or more solvents at an elevated temperature (e.g., up to a boiling point+10° C. (TBP+10C) of the one or more solvents) to form a polymer mixture, wherein a difference in total Hansen solubility parameters (??t) for the POM homopolymer or copolymer and the one or more solvents is 6 or less; cooling the polymer mixture to form a POM particle composition; and isolating the POM particle composition. Said method may be performed at ambient pressures.

Abstract: A nonlimiting example method of forming highly spherical carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyolefin (CNM-g-polyolefin) particles may comprising: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) a CNM-g-polyolefin comprising a polyolefin grafted to a carbon nanomaterial, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the polyolefin of the CNM-g-polyolefin, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not grafted to a CNM, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyolefin of the CNM-g-polyolefin and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the CNM-g-polyolefin in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form the CNM-g-polyolefin particles; and separating the CNM-g-polyolefin particles from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: A method for producing polyimide microparticles may comprise: combining a diamine and a dianhydride in a first dry, high boiling point solvent; reacting the diamine and the dianhydride to produce a mixture comprising poly(amic acid) (PAA) and the first dry, high boiling point solvent; emulsifying the mixture in a matrix fluid that is immiscible with the first dry, high boiling point solvent using an emulsion stabilizer to form a precursor emulsion that is an oil-in-oil emulsion; and heating the precursor emulsion during and/or after formation to a temperature sufficient to polymerize the PAA to form the polyimide microparticles.

Abstract: A nonlimiting example method of forming highly spherical carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyurethane (CNM-g-polyurethane) particles may comprising: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyurethane (CNM-g-polyurethane), wherein the CNM-g-polyurethane particles comprises: a polyurethane grafted to a carbon nanomaterial, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the polyurethane of the CNM-g-polyurethane, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not grafted to a CNM, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyurethane of the CNM-g-polyurethane and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the CNM-g-polyurethane in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form CNM-g-polyurethane particles; and separating the CNM-g-polyurethane particles from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: A nonlimiting example method of forming highly spherical carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyamide (CNM-g-polyamide) polymer particles may comprising: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) carbon nanomaterial-graft-polyamide (CNM-g-polyamide), wherein the CNM-g-polyamide particles comprises: a polyamide grafted to a carbon nanomaterial, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the polyamide of the CNM-g-polyamide, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not grafted to a CNM, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyamide of the CNM-g-polyamide and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the CNM-g-polyamide in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form CNM-g-polyamide particles; and separating the CNM-g-polyamide particles from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: An antimicrobial composition is disclosed. The antimicrobial coating composition includes at least one cured phase change ink which may include one or more crosslinked polymers, a photoinitiator, a wax, a gellant, and an antimicrobial additive. The composition also includes an engineered surface topography formed by the cured phase change ink. A method of preparing a textured antimicrobial surface is also disclosed. The method may include designing a template having a texture, printing the template onto a substrate using an uncured antimicrobial ink, and providing a light source to crosslink the uncured antimicrobial ink.

Abstract: The present teachings according to various embodiments provides a support material for 3D printing. The support material includes poly(alkylene carbonate) having a decomposition temperature of from 100° C. to about 300° C.

Abstract: Particles may be produced that comprise an unsaturated polyamide and an initiator. Said particles may be used in additive manufacturing methods that comprise: depositing the particles optionally in combination with other thermoplastic polymer particles upon a surface; and once deposited, heating at least a portion of the particles to promote consolidation thereof and crosslinking of the unsaturated polyamide, thereby forming a consolidated body comprising a crosslinked polyamide.

Abstract: Pigmented polymer particles may comprise a thermoplastic polymer and a pigment, wherein at least some of the pigmented polymer particles have a morphology according to (a), (b), (c), or any combination thereof: (a) the pigment having a coating comprising the thermoplastic polymer and the coated pigment adhered to a thermoplastic polymer particle, (b) the pigment being embedded in an outer surface of the thermoplastic polymer particle, and (c) the pigment being encapsulated by the thermoplastic polymer particle. The pigmented polymer particles, especially the highly spherical pigmented polymer particles, may be useful, among other things, as starting material for additive manufacturing. For example, a method may comprise: depositing, upon a surface, the foregoing pigmented polymer particles optionally in combination with other thermoplastic polymer particles; and once deposited, heating at least a portion of the particles to promote consolidation thereof and form a consolidated body.

Abstract: Described herein is a powder coating that includes a plurality of particles. The plurality of particles includes amorphous polyester and iron oxide pigment, wherein the plurality of particles have a size of from 5 microns to 250 microns, and wherein the plurality of particles each have a circularity of from about 0.93 to about 0.999. A method of manufacturing the particles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing highly spherical polymer particles comprising a polyamide having an optical absorber in a backbone of the polyamide (IBOA-polyamide) may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising the IBOA-polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the IBOA-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the IBOA-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the IBOA-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the IBOA-polyamide to form particles comprising the IBOA-polyamide and the emulsion stabilizer, when present, associated with an outer surface of the particles.

Abstract: Melt emulsification may be employed to form elastomeric particulates in a narrow size range when nanoparticles and a sulfonate surfactant are included as emulsion stabilizers. Such processes may comprise combining a polyurethane polymer, a sulfonate surfactant, and nanoparticles with a carrier fluid at a heating temperature at or above a melting point or softening temperature of the polyurethane polymer, applying sufficient shear to disperse the polyurethane polymer as liquefied droplets in the presence of the nanoparticles in the carrier fluid at the heating temperature, cooling the carrier fluid at least until elastomeric particulates in a solidified state form, and separating the elastomeric particulates from the carrier fluid. The polyurethane polymer defines a core and an outer surface of the elastomeric particulates, and the nanoparticles are associated with the outer surface. The elastomeric particulates may have a span of about 0.9 or less.

Abstract: A method for producing highly spherical polymer particles comprising a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from a backbone of the polyamide (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising the OAMB-polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the OAMB-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the OAMB-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide to form particles comprising the OAMB-polyamide and the emulsion stabilizer, when present, associated with an outer surface of the particles.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer particles can be produced that comprise a thermoplastic polymer and an emulsion stabilizer (e.g., nanoparticles and/or surfactant) associated with an outer surface of the particles. The nanoparticles may be embedded in the outer surface of the particles. Melt emulsification can be used to produce said particles. For example, a method may include: mixing a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer, an carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer, and the emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the thermoplastic polymer in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer to form the thermoplastic polymer particles; and separating the thermoplastic polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing a polyamide having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide may comprise: polymerizing polyamide monomers in the presence of an optical absorber selected from the group consisting of a polyamine optical absorber, a polyacid optical absorber, an amino acid optical absorber, and any combination thereof to yield the polyamide having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide. Said polyamides having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide may be useful in producing objects by methods that include melt extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, melt spinning, melt emulsification, spray drying, cryogenic milling, freeze drying polymer dispersions, and precipitation of polymer dispersions.