The invention relates to a composition based on a thermoplastic fluoropolymer powder, in particular on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with improved flowability, particularly suitable for manufacturing parts by 3D laser sintering. The invention also relates to a method for agglomerating powder layer by layer, by melting or sintering using said composition. The invention finally relates to a three-dimensional article obtained by implementing said method.

Melt emulsification may be employed to form elastomeric particulates in a narrow size range when nanoparticles and a sulfonate surfactant are included as emulsion stabilizers. Such processes may comprise combining a polyurethane polymer, a sulfonate surfactant, and nanoparticles with a carrier fluid at a heating temperature at or above a melting point or softening temperature of the polyurethane polymer, applying sufficient shear to disperse the polyurethane polymer as liquefied droplets in the presence of the nanoparticles in the carrier fluid at the heating temperature, cooling the carrier fluid at least until elastomeric particulates in a solidified state form, and separating the elastomeric particulates from the carrier fluid. The polyurethane polymer defines a core and an outer surface of the elastomeric particulates, and the nanoparticles are associated with the outer surface. The elastomeric particulates may have a span of about 0.9 or less.

The present invention deals with a process for producing pellets from olefin copolymers. The process comprises: (i) melting the olefin copolymer in an extruder; (ii) extruding the molten olefin copolymer through a die plate into a pellet water bath in a pelletiser thereby producing strands of the olefin copolymer; (iii) cutting the strands of the olefin copolymer in the pelletiser into pellets; and (iv) drying the pellets. The pellet water in the pelletiser contains from 0.1 to 5% by weight of a colloidal silica based on the weight of the water.

The present invention relates to diamide-polyolefin wax mixture comprising one or more diamides (A) and one or more polyolefin waxes (B), where the diamide or diamides (A) possess a structure of the formula X.sup.1—CO—NH—Y—NH—CO—X.sup.2, in which X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are identical or different and are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals having 3 to 29 carbon atoms, and Y is a divalent organic radical which is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic radicals having 2 to 26 carbon atoms, aromatic radicals having 6 to 24 carbon atoms or araliphatic radicals having 7 to 24 carbon atoms, and Y optionally comprises secondary or tertiary amino groups, and the polyolefin wax or waxes (B) carry one or more carboxyl groups and have an acid number of 3 to 50, and are homopolymers or copolymers of at least one ethylenically unsaturated olefin monomer, where the diamide or diamides (A), based on the total weight of the diamide-polyolefin wax mixture, are present in an amount of 20 wt % to less than 40 wt %, the polyolefin wax or waxes (B), based on the total weight of the diamide-polyolefin wax mixture, are present in an amount of above 60 wt % up to 80 wt %, characterized in that the diamide-polyolefin wax mixture at 25° C. is a particulate solid of defined particle size distribution, and the particles comprise both the diamide (A) and the polyolefin wax (B). The invention further relates to the preparation of the aforesaid diamide-polyolefin wax mixture, to the use thereof in liquid compositions, especially as a rheology control agent, to compositions additized accordingly, and to rheology control agents which comprise the diamide-polyolefin wax mixtures.

Multivalent CT or MR contrast agents and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The agents contain a moiety, such as a polymer, that provides multivalent attachment of CT or MR contrast agents. Examples include, but are not limited to, multivalent linear polymers, branched polymers, or hyperbranched polymers, such as dendrimers, and combinations thereof. The dendrimer is functionalized with one or more high Z-elements, such as iodine. The high Z-elements can be covalently or non-covalently bound to the dendrimer. The dendrimers are confined in order to enhance CT contrast. In some embodiments, the moiety is confined by encapsulating the dendrimers in a material to form particles, such as nanoparticles. In other embodiments, the dendrimer is confined by conjugating the moiety to a material, such as a polymer, which forms a gel upon contact with bodily fluids.

Anti-blocking compositions are disclosed that include a wax or mixture of waxes effective to reduce, retard or prevent blocking of a viscoelastic solid when applied to the surface of such a solid. Also disclosed are methods of reducing, retarding or preventing blocking of a viscoelastic solid, and the products of those methods which are viscoelastic solids resistant to blocking.

The present invention relates to a process for producing ultrahigh molecular weight polymer in powder form which is highly efficient drag reducing polymer. The process consists of polymerizing using titanium halide-based catalyst, co-catalyst, optionally a solvent, and monomer to a polymerization reactor, having stirring device and inlet charging and discharge outlet. The resulting ultrahigh molecular weight drag reducing polymers is free flowing, having intrinsic viscosity >10 dL/g. The process reduces polymerization time, temperature, and achieves high conversion, i.e., >90%.

Provided are amorphous and at least partially crystalline polyetherimide compositions having a comparatively narrow particle size distribution and are particularly suited for additive manufacturing processes. The compositions comprise a population of polyetherimide particulates are characterized as having a zero-shear viscosity sufficiently low so as to achieve a coalescence of at least 0.5, and preferably of about 1.0, as characterized by the Frenkel model at a temperature less than 450° C.

The invention relates to a method for producing an implant which contains a composite powder comprising microstructured particles, obtainable by a method in which large polymer particles are bonded to small spherical calcium carbonate particles. Said calcium carbonate particles can be obtained by a method with the following steps: a) providing a calcium hydroxide suspension, b) introducing carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture into the suspension from step a), and c) separating the calcium carbonate particles formed, while adding 0.3 wt.-% to 0.7 wt.-% of at least one amino trialkylene phosphonic acid.

Granulate based on high-temperature thermoplastics with a bulk density in the range of 100 to 650 kg/m.sup.3 in accordance with DIN ISO 697:1984 and less than 1% by weight content of volatile organic compounds, and also method for their production and use for the production of membranes or coatings, or for the toughness-modification of reactive resins.