Patent ID: 7569273

Claim:
A powder adapted for three-dimensional printing, the powder comprising: a loose and free-flowing particulate mixture comprising: a thermoplastic particulate material selected from the group consisting of acetal polyoxymethylene, polylactide, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyphenylene ether, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, polyether block amide, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyetherketone, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylenemethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polythalamide, polymethylmethacrylate, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones, polyacrylonitrile, poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), polyamides, polystyrene, polyolefin, polyvinyl butyral, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chlorides, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate cellulose xanthate, and combinations, and copolymers thereof; and an adhesive particulate material comprising a water-soluble resin including at least one of sulfonated polyester polymer, sulfonated polystyrene, polyethylene oxide, butylated polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate, cationic starch, pregelatinized cationic starch, or combinations or copolymers thereof, wherein the adhesive particulate material is adapted to bond the thermoplastic particulate material when a fluid activates the adhesive particulate material.