A composite powder containing microstructured particles obtainable by means of a method in which large particles are combined with small particles, wherein the large particles have an average particle diameter within the range from 10 μm to 10 mm, the large particles comprise at least one polymer, the small particles are arranged on the surface of the large particles and/or distributed inhomogeneously within the large particles, the small particles comprise a calcium salt, the small particles have an average particle size within the range from 0.01 μm to 1.0 mm,
wherein the particles of the composite powder have an average particle size d.sub.50 within the range from 10 μm to less than 200 μm, and the fine-particle fraction of the composite powder is less than 50% by volume.

Preferred application areas of the composite powder encompass its use as additive, especially as polymer additive, as additive substance or starting material for compounding, for compounding, for the production of components, for applications in medical technology and/or in microtechnology and/or for the production of foamed articles.

The invention therefore also provides components obtainable by selective laser sintering of a composition comprising a composite powder according to the invention, except for implants for uses in the field of neurosurgery, oral surgery, jaw surgery, facial surgery, neck surgery, nose surgery and ear surgery as well as hand surgery, foot surgery, thorax surgery, rib surgery and shoulder surgery.

A polymer material suitable for three-dimensional printing that may include at least one of polyether block amide, thermoplastic polyeurothane, and thermoplastic olefin. The polymer is formed through chemical precipitation forming a precipitated pulverulent polymer which possesses increased operating window characteristics selected from the group consisting at least one of a wider than typical range between and among the melting and recrystallization temperatures, a larger enthalpy upon melting, and a low volumetric change during recrystallization.

A melt blended composition comprising, in weight percent (wt %) based upon the weight of the composition: (A) 55 to 94.98 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer, (B) 5 to 44.98 wt % of a moisture curable polymer, (C) 0.01 to 5 wt % of a moisture condensation catalyst, and (D) 0.01 to 5 wt % of a foaming agent, exhibits enhanced foaming, rheological and mechanical properties as compared to a composition alike in all aspects save for the presence of a moisture curable polymer.

Methods for reducing moisture content of alkaline earth metal carbonate may include introducing alkaline earth metal carbonate having a moisture content ranging from about 0.1% by mass to about 10% by mass into a primary crusher and operating the primary crusher to obtain alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a top cut particle size d.sub.90 of 90 microns or less. The method may also include introducing the particles into a primary grinder and operating the primary grinder to obtain reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d.sub.50 of about 60 microns or less. The method may further include introducing the reduced-size particles into a classifier mill and operating the classifier mill to obtain further-reduced-size alkaline earth metal carbonate particles having a median particle size d.sub.50 of about 12 microns or less, and a moisture content of about 0.15% by mass or less.

A polymer material suitable for three-dimensional printing that may include at least one of polyether block amide, thermoplastic polyeurothane, and thermoplastic olefin. The polymer is formed through chemical precipitation forming a precipitated pulverulent polymer which possesses increased operating window characteristics selected from the group consisting at least one of a wider than typical range between and among the melting and recrystallization temperatures, a larger enthalpy upon melting, and a low volumetric change during recrystallization.

This invention relates to eco-friendly dip formable solutions and dispersions for making dip formed articles. Some embodiments of the invention include coatable, dip formable, or emulsifiable solution composition comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers in cyclic natural terpenes, such as citrus peel extract which can be used to form an article. In some embodiments dip formable solutions and dispersions comprise of styrenated block copolymers and polyolefins. In some embodiments the styrenated block copolymers are saturated, unsaturated, or a blend. In some embodiments, the styrenated block copolymers comprises an oil or a plasticizer. In some embodiments the articles are made from an emulsion. In some embodiments the articles are made from a plastisol.

Described herein are methods for rendering biodegradable a plastic material that is not itself biodegradable, by blending the plastic material with a carbohydrate-based polymeric material that is formed from a) one or more starches and a plasticizer (e.g., glycerin), b) an additive known in the art as an OXO material and/or an additive that interacts with microbes that contribute to biodegradation of the non-biodegradable material. The carbohydrate-based polymeric material is less crystalline than the non-biodegradable materials, e.g., being substantially amorphous, and having a crystallinity of no more than 20%. When tested under conditions causing biodegradation, the blend biodegrades to an extent greater than the content of the carbohydrate-based polymer.

An adhesion promoter for non-conductive surfaces is disclosed that combines a polyolefin with co-resins in a colloidal suspension in water. The colloidal suspension in water is prepared from mixing a solid-powder composition that includes the polyolefin and the co-resins with water. The colloidal suspension in water is applied to a low surface energy, non-conductive substrate, such as thermoplastic olefins, in order to make the substrates conductive for electrostatic painting.

A protective film that includes at least one of a transparent polyolefin resin layer and a surface protection layer, and that has excellent weather resistance and a low level of white turbidity, which is a factor that impairs design properties; and a sheet using the protective film. The protective film comprises at least a transparent polyolefin resin layer, wherein the transparent polyolefin resin layer contains a first hydroxyphenyltriazine-based ultraviolet absorber (UVA-A) having a structure represented by the general formula below. In the general formula, R1-R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a phenyl group, or an alkoxy group, and at least two of R1-R3 are an alkoxy group having 8-18 carbon atoms, R4 and R5 each independently represent a hydroxyl group, a methyl group, or a hydrogen atom, and R6-R8 each independently represent a methyl group or a hydrogen atom.

A flame retardant thermoplastic composition includes a thermoplastic polymer with a glass transition temperature of less than or equal to 0° C. and a melt mass flow rate in the range of 0.5 to 60 g/10 min, an inorganic filler, a metal hydroxide flame retardant, a compound containing boron, and optionally an additive. Further disclosed is a molded body obtained from the thermoplastic composition and the use of said molded body for the production of everyday items of use.