Silver nanoparticle-sulfonated polyester composite powders and methods of making the same

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

a sulfonated polyester matrix; and

a plurality of silver nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix,

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 65° 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. A three-dimensional article comprising:

a composite powder comprising:

a sulfonated polyester matrix; and

a plurality of silver nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix;

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.

10. The three-dimensional article of claim 9 , 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.