Styrenic-based polymer coated silver nanoparticle-sulfonated polyester composite powders and methods of making the same

1. A composite powder for use in selective laser sintering, comprising:

a core particle comprising:

a sulfonated polyester matrix; and

a plurality of silver nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix;

and

a shell polymer disposed about the core particle;

wherein the silver nanoparticle is present in the composite powder in a range from about 0.5 ppm to about 50,000 ppm; and further wherein the composite powder has a particle size of from about 10 microns to about 300 microns.

2. The composite powder of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polyester has a glass transition (Tg) temperature of from about 45° C. to about 95° C.

3. The composite powder of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix comprises a branched polymer.

4. The composite powder of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix comprises a linear polymer.

5. The composite powder of claim 1 , wherein the powder composite has a spherical structure.

6. The composite powder of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix comprises lithium, potassium, or sodium salt of a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(1,2-propylene-5-sulfoisophthalate), poly(neopentylene-5-sulfoisophthalate), poly(diethylene-5-sulfoisophthalate), copoly-(1,2-propylene-5-sulfoisophthalate)-copoly-(1,2-propylene-terphthalate), copoly-(1,2-propylenediethylene-5-sulfoisophthalate)-copoly-(1,2-propylene-diethylene-terephthalatephthalate), copoly(ethylene-neopentylene-5-sulfoisophthalate)-copoly-(ethylene-neopentylene-terephthalatephthalate), and copoly(propoxylated bisphenol A)-copoly-(propoxylated bisphenol A-5-sulfoisophthalate).

7. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix comprises a polyol monomer unit selected from the group consisting of trimethylolpropane, 1,2-propanediol, diethylene glycol, and combinations thereof.

8. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated polyester matrix comprises a diacid monomer unit selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, sulfonated isophthalic acid, and combinations thereof.

9. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the shell polymer comprises a styrene monomer.

10. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the shell polymer further comprises at least one vinyl monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, β-carboxyethyl acrylate, methyl α-chloro acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butadiene, isoprene, methacrylonitrile, acrylonitrile, methyl vinyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl ketone, and methyl isopropenyl ketone, vinylidene chloride, vinylidene chloro fluoride, N-vinylindole, N-vinyl pyrrolidene, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl N-methylpyridinium chloride, vinyl naphthalene, p-chlorostyrene, vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride, ethylene, propylene, butylene, and isobutylene.

11. A three-dimensional article comprising:

a composite powder comprising:

a core particle comprising:

a sulfonated polyester matrix; and

a plurality of silver nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix;

and

a shell polymer disposed about the core particle;

wherein the silver nanoparticle is present in the composite powder in a range from about 0.5 ppm to about 50,000 ppm; and further wherein the composite powder has a particle size of from about 10 microns to about 300 microns.

12. The three-dimensional article of claim 11 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a biochemical sensor, an optical detector, an antibacterial, a textile, a cosmetic, an electronic component, a fiber, and a cryogenic superconducting material.