POLYMER POWDER COMPRISING A COPOLYMER, USE IN A SHAPING METHOD WHICH USES A NON-FOCUSSED APPLICATION OF ENERGY AND MOULDED BODY THAT IS PRODUCED FROM SAID POLYMER POWDER

摘要

The invention relates to a polymer powder comprising a copolymer, to the use of said powder in a shaping method and to moulded bodies that are produced from said polymer powder. The shaping methods are methods that operate layer by layer using a powder and during said methods areas of each layer are fused by the non-focussed application of electromagnetic energy. Selectivity can be achieved in a masking process, by the application of inhibitors, absorbers, or susceptors, without restricting the invention to the use of these substances. The inventive powder is preferably used in methods, in which selectivity is achieved by the application of inhibitors or susceptors or in a masking method. Once cooled, the solidified moulded bodies can be removed from the powder bed. The component characteristics of the moulded bodies that have been produced using the inventive powder according to the inventive method, in particular the mechanical and thermal component characteristics, can be varied within a wide range, depending on their composition, in comparison to moulded bodies produced from conventional powders. For amorphous copolymers in particular, the flow behaviour for the shaping method can be optimised by the skilful selection of comonomers. An additional advantage is that processing can also be simplified by the skilful composition of the copolymer. It is possible to conduct the processing at lower temperatures, which simplifies the temperature control and accelerates said processing. The slower crystallisation of semi-crystalline polymers in comparison to semi-crystalline homopolymers promotes the coalescence of the fused particles and leads to improved shrinkage behaviour in the moulded bodies.