A process for manufacturing an article made of recovered rubber crumb is provided. According to the process:

a) crumb particles are mixed with particles of a solute;

b) a molded article is produced by molding the mixture from step a) in a closed mold under predetermined temperature and pressure conditions; and

c) the molded article is brought into contact with a solvent so as to dissolve at least one portion of the particles of said solute.

A method for preparing a polyolefin resin powder has the steps of a) heat dissolving a polyolefin resin in an organic solvent having a solubility parameter less than or equal to the solubility parameter of the polyolefin resin to obtain a polyolefin resin solution; b) cooling the polyolefin resin solution to precipitate a solid, thereby obtaining a solid-liquid mixture; c) optionally adding an adjuvant to the solid-liquid mixture and mixing; and d) conducting solid-liquid separation and drying to obtain a polyolefin resin powder suitable for selective laser sintering. The difference between the solubility parameters of the organic solvent and of the polyolefin resin is within 0-20% of the solubility parameter of the polyolefin resin. The polyolefin resin powder obtained according to this method has good antioxidant property, good powder flowability, moderate size, smooth surface, suitable bulk density, and suitable dispersibility and particle size distribution.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a hot melt adhesive (HMA) material, preferably hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) material, having a substantially tack-free coating comprising a novel moulding and spraying step, wherein said HMA material, preferably HMPSA material, can be easily handled, packed and transported for further use. In addition, the present invention relates to a corresponding device for producing a hot melt adhesive (HMA) material, preferably hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) material, having a substantially tack-free coating.

A method of making an article includes converting a first amorphous polymer to an at least partially crystalline polymeric powder composition and powder bed fusing the at least partially crystalline polymer powder composition to form a three-dimensional article including a second amorphous polymer.

A three-dimensional object may be produced with improved dimensional control by laser sintering a polymer powder having a melting point and melting onset temperature, which has been annealed prior to sintering. The initial melting onset temperature of the polymer is between 50 C. and 170 C. The polymer powder is first annealed at a temperature which is below the polymer melting point, and from 5 C. above the melting onset temperature of the polymer powder to 10 C. below the melting onset temperature. Annealing may be carried out for a period of between 2 hours and 48 hours. A layer of the annealed polymer powder is applied to a carrier; and the layer is irradiated with a laser beam in areas of the layer which correspond to the three-dimensional object to be produced. The steps of applying the annealed polymer powder and irradiating the powder are repeated sequentially until the complete three-dimensional object is prepared. The irradiating step sinters the annealed polymer powder in areas of the layer which correspond to the three-dimensional object, without sintering the annealed polymer powder in other areas.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a hot melt adhesive (HMA) material, preferably hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) material, having a substantially tack-free coating comprising a novel moulding and spraying step, wherein said HMA material, preferably HMPSA material, can be easily handled, packed and transported for further use. In addition, the present invention relates to a corresponding device for producing a hot melt adhesive (HMA) material, preferably hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) material, having a substantially tack-free coating.

A method for preparing a polyolefin resin powder has the steps of a) heat dissolving a polyolefin resin in an organic solvent having a solubility parameter less than or equal to the solubility parameter of the polyolefin resin to obtain a polyolefin resin solution; b) cooling the polyolefin resin solution to precipitate a solid, thereby obtaining a solid-liquid mixture; c) optionally adding an adjuvant to the solid-liquid mixture and mixing; and d) conducting solid-liquid separation and drying to obtain a polyolefin resin powder suitable for selective laser sintering.

The difference between the solubility parameters of the organic solvent and of the polyolefin resin is within 0-20% of the solubility parameter of the polyolefin resin. The polyolefin resin powder obtained according to this method has good antioxidant property, good powder flowability, moderate size, smooth surface, suitable bulk density, and suitable dispersibility and particle size distribution.

A method of making an article, the method comprising converting a first amorphous polymer to an at least partially crystalline polymeric powder composition and powder bed fusing the at least partially crystalline polymer powder composition to form a three-dimensional article comprising a second amorphous polymer.