The present invention refers to a method for polishing polyamide objects obtained by additive manufacturing or 3D printing techniques, which comprises immersion of the polyamide object in a mixture of formic acid and dichloromethane at room temperature for a period of time comprised between 5 seconds and 6 minutes. This method allows effectively elimination or reduction of the roughness of the polyamide objects obtained by additive manufacturing or 3D printing techniques, for example, obtained by techniques such as the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) with a simple procedure which does not require neither high temperatures nor extended treatment times. The present invention also refers to the object obtainable according to such method.

A process to cure and/or modify the surface of a three dimensional (3D) printed part comprising the steps of immersing a three dimensional (3D) printed part, containing reactive moieties, into a liquid bath at an elevated temperature to effect polymerization of the reactive moieties of the 3D printed part to provide a cured 3D printed part is described. The liquid bath can further contain reactive molecules that can react with the surface of the 3D printed part to provide a coating which alters the surface characteristics of the 3D printed part.

The present application describes apparatus (100) for colouring an additively manufactured polymer part, comprising a chamber (106) for locating at least one additively manufactured polymer part (105) to be coloured, a first reservoir (102) for containing dye pigment particles to be suspended in a gas, and fluidly coupled to the chamber, and a further reservoir (104) for containing a solvent vapour, and fluidly coupled to the chamber. A method of colouring an additively manufactured polymer part is also described.

A process to cure and/or modify the surface of a three dimensional (3D) printed part comprising the steps of immersing a three dimensional (3D) printed part, containing reactive moieties, into a liquid bath at an elevated temperature to effect polymerization of the reactive moieties of the 3D printed part to provide a cured 3D printed part is described. The liquid bath can further contain reactive molecules that can react with the surface of the 3D printed part to provide a coating which alters the surface characteristics of the 3D printed part.

The present invention relates to a process for treating a polyamide-based material comprising silica fibers and/or fillers, by impregnation with at least one hydrophobic additive in supercritical CO.sub.2. The invention also relates to a polyamide-based material comprising silica fibers and/or fillers and impregnated with at least one hydrophobic additive, obtained via such a process, and to the use thereof as an electrically insulating component in an electrical device, in particular in a circuit breaker.

This invention relates to a treatment process for a material chosen from among a polyamide, a polyester and a poly(meth)acrylate. According to the invention, this process comprises a step in which contact is made between this material and a polar organic solvent in a supercritical fluid. This invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a part from a material chosen from among a polyamide, a polyester and a poly(meth)acrylate in a divided form. Finally, the invention relates to use of the material treated by the treatment process and to use of the part manufactured by the manufacturing process in the low voltage, medium voltage or high voltage electrical industry.

Provided herein are methods of forming a three-dimensional object, which may be carried out by: (a) forming a three-dimensional intermediate by polymerization of a polymerizable liquid in an additive manufacturing process, the polymerizable liquid comprising a light polymerizable component; then (b) contacting at least a portion of the three-dimensional intermediate to a penetrant fluid, the penetrant fluid carrying a solidifiable component, the contacting step carried out under conditions in which the solidifiable component penetrates into the three-dimensional intermediate; (c) optionally but preferably separating the three-dimensional intermediate from the penetrant fluid; and then (d) solidifying and/or curing the solidifiable component in the three-dimensional intermediate to form the three-dimensional object.Provided herein are methods of forming a three-dimensional object, which may be carried out by: (a) forming a three-dimensional intermediate by polymerization of a polymerizable liquid in an additive manufacturing process, the polymerizable liquid comprising a light polymerizable component; then (b) contacting at least a portion of the three-dimensional intermediate to a penetrant fluid, the penetrant fluid carrying a solidifiable component, the contacting step carried out under conditions in which the solidifiable component penetrates into the three-dimensional intermediate; (c) optionally but preferably separating the three-dimensional intermediate from the penetrant fluid; and then (d) solidifying and/or curing the solidifiable component in the three-dimensional intermediate to form the three-dimensional object.

The present invention relates to a process for treating a polyamide-based material comprising silica fibers and/or fillers, by impregnation with at least one hydrophobic additive in supercritical CO.sub.2.

The invention also relates to a polyamide-based material comprising silica fibers and/or fillers and impregnated with at least one hydrophobic additive, obtained via such a process, and to the use thereof as an electrically insulating component in an electrical device, in particular in a circuit breaker.

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a 3D printed object. The method comprises treating an outer surface of a 3D printed object with a dye condensing solvent vapour on the treated outer surface: and dissolving a portion of the treated outer surface in the condensed solvent to reduce the surface roughness of the 3D printed object.

The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a 3D printed object. The method comprises condensing solvent vapour on an outer surface of the 3D printed object. The 3D printed object comprises polymer and radiation absorber. The outer surface of the 3D printed object a) comprises pores that absorb the solvent and b) has a surface roughness, Ra, of greater than 5 ?m. The method also comprises dissolving a portion of the 3D printed object to tailor the surface roughness, Ra, of the 3D printed object to a value of from 0.5 to 4 ?m.