US 12,076,933 B2
Use of polyhydroxy compound as plasticizer for polyvinyl alcohol in 3D printing process
Yousuke Kumaki, Troisdorf (DE); and Moritz Baier, Hofheim (DE)
Assigned to KURARAY CO., LTD., Kurashiki (JP)
Appl. No. 16/342,340
Filed by KURARAY CO., LTD., Kurashiki (JP)
PCT Filed Oct. 16, 2017, PCT No. PCT/EP2017/076381
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 16, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/073190, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 26, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2016 220 434.3 (DE), filed on Oct. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0047418 A1, Feb. 13, 2020
Int. Cl. B29C 64/00 (2017.01); B29C 64/40 (2017.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); C09D 11/106 (2014.01); B29K 29/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/40 (2017.08) [B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); C09D 11/106 (2013.01); B29K 2029/04 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0062 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. A process of manufacturing a three-dimensional object, comprising:
depositing and solidifying a molten thermoplastic polymer on a support structure to form a three-dimensional preform,
wherein the support structure consists of a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), at least one plasticizer according to formula II or III, and optionally an additional plasticizer that is chemically distinct from the plasticizers according to formulae II and III:
[R1—C(CH2—OH)2CH2]2O  (II)
(R1)C(CH2—OH)2CH2·O—CH2C(CH2—OH)C(R1)CH2·O—CH2C(CH2—OH),R1  (III)
wherein R1 is H, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, or CH2OH,
wherein the at least one plasticizer according to formula II or III is present in an amount of no greater than 20% by weight relative to a total weight of the PVOH,
wherein the support structure has a glass transition point (Tg) of greater than 46.7° C.,
wherein the PVOH has a degree of hydrolysis of 60-90%,
wherein the PVOH comprises as repeating units vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate and up to 20 Mol % of further olefinic monomers.