Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles dispersed in at least a portion of a polymer matrix comprising first polymer material and a sacrificial material, the sacrificial material being removable from the polymer matrix to define a plurality of pores in the polymer matrix. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The sacrificial material may comprise a second polymer material. The compositions may define a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer and introducing porosity therein.

A curable composition contains a polymerizable compound, a photopolymerization initiator, and a solvent. The polymerizable compound contains a silicon compound having polymerizability, the curable composition has a viscosity of not less than 2 mPa.Math.s and not more than 60 mPa.Math.s at 23 C., the curable composition in a state in which the solvent is removed has a viscosity of not less than 30 mPa.Math.s and not more than 10,000 mPa.Math.s at 23 C., and content of the solvent with respect to the whole curable composition is not less than 5 vol % and not more than 95 vol %.

Described are methods for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such a method, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, is provided which includes loading a mold with a first material which includes particles of an expanded material, and, during loading the mold, pre-heating the particles by supplying energy, wherein the energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.

A non-contact method of joining two components via direct heating of a thermoset adhesive includes applying the thermoset adhesive to at least a first component of the two components. The thermoset adhesive includes a susceptor to reacts in the presence of an electromagnetic field. The method includes placing the first component and a second component of the two components in proximity to an electromagnetic field. In some aspects, the method includes placing the first and second components in proximity to an electromagnetic field of a capacitor. The susceptor interacts with the electromagnetic field to heat the thermoset adhesive via resistive heating. In some aspects, a method of direct-contact heating of the thermoset adhesive includes attaching electrodes to a film comprising the adhesive. The components being joined together are not directly heated by the electromagnetic field, and as a result experience much lower temperatures than the thermoset adhesive.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles non-covalently interacting with at least a portion of a polymer material via - bonding, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions stronger than van der Waals interactions, or any combination thereof. The piezoelectric particles may be dispersed in the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further including a polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles non-covalently interacting with at least a portion of a polymer material via - bonding, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions stronger than van der Waals interactions, or any combination thereof. The piezoelectric particles may be dispersed in the polymer material and remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer material. The polymer material may comprise at least one thermoplastic polymer, optionally further including a polymer precursor. The compositions may define an extrudable material that is a composite having a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, a composite powder, or a composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using a composite filament comprising a plurality of piezoelectric particles dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer. The composite filaments may be formed through melt blending and extrusion. The composite filament is compatible with fused filament fabrication and has a length and diameter compatible with fused filament fabrication, and the piezoelectric particles are substantially non-agglomerated and dispersed along the length of the composite filament. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when dispersed in the thermoplastic polymer through melt blending. Additive manufacturing processes may comprise heating such a composite filament at or above a melting point or softening temperature thereof to form a softened composite material, and depositing the softened composite material layer by layer to form a printed part.

A piezoelectric fabric can include: a non-woven, continuous fiber mat comprising: a polymer; and a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic particles. The piezoelectric fabric can be produced by electrospinning. The method of electrospinning can include: forming a continuous fiber of material comprising: flowing a fluid through a needle, wherein the fluid comprises: the polymer; a base fluid; and the piezoelectric ceramic particles; and applying a voltage to create an electric field between a tip of the needle and a collector during fluid flow; and collecting the continuous fiber on the collector. The piezoelectric fabric can exhibit improved performance and piezo thermal stability.

Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using compositions comprising a polymer matrix comprising a first polymer material and a second polymer material that are immiscible with each other, and a plurality of piezoelectric particles substantially localized in one of the first polymer material or the second polymer material. The piezoelectric particles may remain substantially non-agglomerated when combined with the polymer matrix. The compositions may define a form factor such as a composite filament, a composite pellet, or an extrudable composite paste. Additive manufacturing processes using the compositions may comprise forming a printed part by depositing the compositions layer-by-layer.