US 12,139,621 B2
Precipitation of thermoplastic polyurethane to enhance operational window for three dimensional printing
Luke Rodgers, St. Petersburg, FL (US); and Erik Gjovik, St. Petersburg, FL (US)
Assigned to JABIL INC.
Filed by JABIL INC., St. Petersburg, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/207,228.
Application 18/207,228 is a continuation of application No. 17/333,096, filed on May 28, 2021, granted, now 11,739,230.
Application 17/333,096 is a continuation of application No. 16/342,433, granted, now 11,046,857, issued on Jun. 29, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2017/056996, filed on Oct. 17, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/409,036, filed on Oct. 17, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0332005 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C09D 11/102 (2014.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); C08G 69/40 (2006.01); C08J 3/14 (2006.01); C08K 7/22 (2006.01); C08K 9/04 (2006.01); C08L 101/00 (2006.01); C09D 11/108 (2014.01)
CPC C09D 11/102 (2013.01) [B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); C08G 69/40 (2013.01); C08J 3/14 (2013.01); C08K 7/22 (2013.01); C08K 9/04 (2013.01); C08L 101/00 (2013.01); C09D 11/108 (2013.01); C08J 2323/00 (2013.01); C08J 2375/04 (2013.01); C08J 2377/00 (2013.01); C08J 2387/00 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
 
1. A polymer material suitable for three-dimensional printing, comprising a precipitated thermoplastic polyurethane having a larger enthalpy upon melting, compared to a baseline thermoplastic polyurethane having an enthalpy at about 1 joule per gram, wherein the precipitated polyurethane has larger crystallites than the baseline thermoplastic polyurethane, wherein the precipitated thermoplastic polyurethane is formed by a precipitation process of the baseline thermoplastic polyurethane, the precipitation process comprising:
mixing at least the baseline thermoplastic polyurethane with laurolactam, 1,12-dodecanedioic acid, water, and aqueous hypophosphorous acid to form a composition of the baseline thermoplastic polyurethane and at least the laurolactam and the 1,12-dodecanedioic acid;
heating the composition;
stirring the composition;
depressurizing an environment of the stirring to atmospheric pressure; and
passing nitrogen over the composition to complete the precipitation to create the precipitated thermoplastic polyurethane.