Water soluble polymer compositions
A water soluble polymer composition includes a water soluble polymer and a sugar and may be used as a support in additive manufacturing processes.
1. A water soluble polymer composition comprising:
a semi-crystalline water soluble polymer; and
a sugar having a melting point of at least 200° C.;
wherein the semi-crystalline water soluble polymer and the sugar are melt processable and substantially miscible and form a water soluble polymer composition; and
wherein the water soluble polymer composition is substantially dry.
2. The water soluble polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition is substantially stable at a build chamber temperature of at least about 140° C.
3. The water soluble polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition is substantially stable at a build chamber temperature of at least about 150° C.
4. The water soluble polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition is substantially stable at a build chamber temperature of at least about 170° C.
5. The water soluble polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition is substantially stable at a build chamber temperature of at least about 190° C.
6. The water soluble polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition is substantially stable at a build chamber temperature of at least about 210° C.
7. The water soluble polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-crystalline water soluble polymer comprises butendiol vinylalcohol copolymer.
8. The water soluble polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the sugar comprises trehalose.
9. The water soluble polymer composition according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives or further polymers.
10. The water soluble polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition is semi-crystalline.
11. The water soluble polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition has a dissolution rate of at least about 400 mg/min according to Dissolution Test Method 2.
12. The water soluble polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polymer composition has a dissolution rate of at least about 600 mg/min as determined by Dissolution Test Method 2.
13. A water soluble support composition comprising: a semi-crystalline water soluble polymer having a dissolution rate of at least 100 mg/min according to Dissolution Test Method 2 and is substantially stable at build chamber temperatures of at least 140° C.
14. A water soluble support composition of claim 13 , wherein the semi-crystalline water soluble polymer is drawn down during processing.
15. A three-dimensional printed article comprising:
a three-dimensional printed object generally disposed on a substantially horizontal build plate; and
one or more soluble supports positioned about and supporting one or more portions of the three-dimensional printed object, the soluble supports comprising a water soluble polymer composition;
wherein the water soluble polymer composition is formed by melt processing a semi-crystalline water soluble polymer and a sugar having a melting point of at least 200° C.; and
wherein the semi-crystalline water soluble polymer and the sugar are substantially miscible.
16. The three-dimensional printed article according to claim 15 , wherein the semi-crystalline water soluble polymer comprises butendiol vinylalcohol copolymer.