Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system for preparing an object made at least partially of an expanded polymer including: a printing device for transporting and depositing a strand of expanded polymer including a blowing agent onto a surface and a 3D movement device for adjusting the position of the printing device in a predefined matrix allowing deposit of the strand of expanded polymer at a predetermined time and precise position within the matrix, the printing device includes: a feed section, a transporting section, a surface melting section, and a terminal printing head section for depositing the expanded polymer strand onto the surface, and all of sections have the same inner diameter, and the surface melting section including a solid-state welding element, a laser beam, a generator of hot gas or liquid and/or a generator of heat.

Abstract: Expanded polypropylene beads comprising a polypropylene composition (C) having: a) a melt flow rate (MFR2) in the range from 1.5 to 15.0 g/10 min; b) a melting temperature (Tm) in the range from 135 to 158° C.; and c) a loss tangent (tan ?) in the range of 2.00 to 4.00 wherein the polypropylene composition (C) comprises more than 90.0 wt.-%, of a long chain branched copolymer of propylene (c-PP) comprising up to 8.0 wt.-% of comonomer(s) selected from ethylene and C4 to C10 alpha olefins, a method for the preparation of said beads, in addition to a method of forming molded articles from said beads, and the molded articles obtained thereby.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for preparing a three-dimensional object made at least partially of an expanded polymer includes a printing device configured to prepare an expandable polymer melt and deposit a strand of expandable, expanding or expanded polymer onto a surface and a three-dimensional movement device for to enable depositing of the strand of expandable, expanding or expanded polymer at a predetermined time at a precise position within the three-dimensional matrix. The printing device includes a feed section at an upstream end of the printing device, a heating section, a pressurizing section, a blowing agent supply line, a mixing section, a cooling section and a terminal printing head section at a downstream end of the printing device including a die configured to deposit the strand of the expandable, expanding or expanded polymer onto the surface.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for preparing a three-dimensional object made at least partially of an expanded polymer includes an autoclave, a printing device and a three-dimensional movement device. The printing device prepares an expandable polymer melt and deposits a strand of the expandable, expanding or expanded polymer onto a surface. The three-dimensional movement device adjusts the position of the printing device in a predefined three-dimensional matrix so as to enable depositing of the strand of expandable, expanding or expanded polymer at a predetermined time at a precise position within the three-dimensional matrix. The printing device includes a feed section, a cooling section, a backflow prevention section, a heating section and a terminal printing head section including a die for depositing the expandable, expanding or expanded polymer strand onto the surface.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system for preparing an object made at least partially of an expanded polymer including: a printing device for transporting and depositing a strand of expanded polymer including a blowing agent onto a surface and a 3D movement device for adjusting the position of the printing device in a predefined matrix allowing deposit of the strand of expanded polymer at a predetermined time and precise position within the matrix, the printing device includes: a feed section, a transporting section, a surface melting section, and a terminal printing head section for depositing the expanded polymer strand onto the surface, and all of sections have the same inner diameter, and the surface melting section including a solid-state welding element, a laser beam, a generator of hot gas or liquid and/or a generator of heat.