Carbon. has been granted a patent for methods to recycle additively manufactured objects made from various polyurethanes and polyureas. The process involves melting or dissolving these materials to create new objects or resin, enhancing sustainability in additive manufacturing. GlobalData’s report on Carbon gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Carbon, Spacecraft 3D Printing was a key innovation area identified from patents. Carbon's grant share as of June 2024 was 45%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Recycling methods for additively manufactured thermoplastic objects

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Carbon Inc

The granted patent US12042994B2 outlines a method for recycling additively manufactured objects, specifically those made from thermoplastic materials. The process begins with the provision of recyclable material, which can include thermoplastic objects derived from scrap additive manufacturing resin. These objects are characterized by a blend of various polyurethanes and polyureas, along with a polymerized reactive diluent. The recycling method involves either melting or dissolving the recyclable material to create a liquid thermoplastic, which can then be used to form new objects or packaged to produce resin. The method also allows for the blending of the recyclable material with additional thermoplastic materials at various stages of the process.

Further claims detail specific aspects of the recycling method, including the types of reactive diluents that can be used, such as monofunctional variants, and the various techniques for forming new objects, including molding and casting. The patent also describes the fragmentation of the recyclable objects through methods like cutting or grinding, and the potential for melt-processing the material into different forms, such as sheets or pellets. Additionally, the method can incorporate plasticizers to enhance the properties of the final product. Overall, this patent presents a comprehensive approach to recycling thermoplastic materials from additive manufacturing, contributing to sustainability in the field.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.