A polymeric composition is used as a consumable material in 3D printer. The composition includes a water soluble polymer or polymer blend that is at least about 50 wt % of the total weight of the composition. The composition includes a rheologic modifier that is at least about 1 wt % of the total weight of the polymeric composition. The composition includes a filler that is at least about 10 wt % of the total weight of the polymeric composition. At least 90 wt % of the individual ingredient compositions before mixing are water soluble.

A water-soluble film comprising a mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resin, a plasticizer, and a metal salt, wherein the metal salt is present in the water-soluble film in an amount sufficient to reduce the enthalpy of melting of the film by at least 20% compared to the enthalpy of melting of an otherwise identical film not comprising the metal salt.

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object includes steps of: a) providing a digital description of the object as a set of voxels; b) sequentially creating an actual set of voxels corresponding to the digital set of voxels; wherein at least one voxel comprises a composition comprising between about 35 and about 100 wt. % of a polymer selected from the group consisting of nonionic PEG homopolymers, PEG copolymers, and mixtures thereof; the polymer having an average molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 95,000 AMU; and between about 0 and about 65 wt. % of a filler, wherein the filler is a solid at a temperature of above about 75 C, wherein the composition has a Melt Flow Index of between about 0.1 and about 50 g/10 min when measured at 70 C under a 1.2 kg load using a half-die according to ASTM D1238-13.

A mold configuration for forming a pocket in a film comprising: a film support surface; a perimeter edge at said film support surface; wall surfaces inward of the perimeter edge defining a mold cavity; the wall surfaces including transition wall surfaces extending to a bottom wall surface; and a plateau surface inward of the perimeter edge. In one form, the perimeter edge includes sharp corner profile perimeter edge portions defining at least one sharp corner profile. A method of forming a pouch, includes using the disclosed mold configuration. A resultant pouch has a perimeter seal seam having at least one sharp corner profile.

Water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composites of water-soluble thermoplastic polyethylene oxide graft polymers, and nanoscopic particulate processing aids such nanoscopic titanium dioxide powders, or water-soluble polyethylene oxide graft polymers, structural reinforcement materials such as carbon or glass fibers, and plasticizers. These water-soluble thermoplastic polymer composites may be useful in preparing, for example, three-dimensional (3D) sacrificial supports, vapor sensors, as well as other three-dimensional (3D) articles, objects, or parts.

A method of recycling and reusing a tap water-soluble sulfonated polymer material from a structural component made using an additive manufacturing process comprises dissolving the structural component in water to disperse the sulfonated polymer material into the water. The sulfonated polymer material is precipitated from the water and recovered; then dried and reformed into a form suitable for subsequent use as a consumable feedstock in a subsequent additive manufacturing process.

The disclosure describes a thermoforming machine, which can include a horizontal intermittent motion thermoforming machine, and a mold, wherein the mold contains a plurality of pocket forming cavities in a 2-dimensional array. These cavities can each be defined by side walls and a base, and each cavity can be surrounded by a planar surface of the mold on all sides. Further, the cavities can be positioned in the array so as to provide a plurality of continuous strips of uninterrupted planar surface of the mold from a leading to a trailing edge of the mold. These cavities can have rounded bottom corners, formed where the side walls meet the base, and rounded edges, formed where side walls meet an upper surface of the mold. The thermoforming machine can be further configured to be able to draw a web of water-soluble film down into the cavities.

A method and apparatus for formation, filling, and sealing unit dose packages for consumer products are described herein. A filling system with a filling control system is also disclosed. Although the filling system is described in conjunction with a method for forming, filling, and sealing unit dose packages, the filling system and filling control system can be used in other dispensing processes.

A water-soluble film (WSF) system comprises at least one active material embedded/entrapped in the film so as to provide precise and desired release of the at least one active material therefrom. The at least one active material includes detergents, enzymes, softeners, perfumes, pesticides, fungicides, active ingredients, dyes, pigments, hazardous chemicals, active agents for cleaning laundry, dishes, floorings, walls, furniture, fluffs, pulp, and combinations thereof. Online and offline processes can be used for the manufacture of multi-layered WSFs with or without liners. The WSFs can be formed in desired shapes to selectively entrap interacting/non-interacting materials and combinations thereof. The process also provides options for the use of a wide range of raw materials, liners such as paper, film, foil, fabric, etc.

A forming method of a water-soluble protective film on a front surface of a plate-shaped object includes a water-soluble sheet arrangement step of arranging a water-soluble resin sheet having thermoplasticity on a side of the front surface of the plate-shaped object, and an integration step of heating the water-soluble resin sheet to melt or soften the same, and integrating the water-soluble resin sheet and the plate-shaped object, to form the water-soluble protective film on the plate-shaped object. Preferably, the water-soluble resin sheet may contain a light absorber. A processing method of a plate-shaped object includes the water-soluble sheet arrangement step and integration step.