Polymer particles and method for producing a three-dimensional structure therefrom by means of an electrographic method

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to polymer particles comprising a polymer matrix having a coating of an inorganic semimetal oxide or metal oxide, wherein the polymer matrix has at least one first functional group A and at least one second functional group B, both functional groups A and B being able to enter into at least one covalent bond with one another, functional group A being selected from the group consisting of an azide group, C—C double bond, C—C triple bond, aldehyde group, ketone group, imine group, thioketone group and thiol group, and functional group B being selected from the group consisting of a C—C double bond, C—C triple bond, C—N triple bond, diene group, thiol group and amine group.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Polymer particles comprising a polymer matrix having a coating of an inorganic semimetal oxide or metal oxide, wherein the polymer matrix has at least one first functional group A and at least one second functional group B, both functional groups A and B being able to enter into at least one covalent bond with one another, said functional group A being selected from the group consisting of an azide group, C—C double bond, C—C triple bond, aldehyde group, ketone group, imine group, thioketone group and thiol group, and said functional group B being selected from the group consisting of a C—C double bond, C—C triple bond, C—N triple bond, diene group, thiol group and amine group. 
     
     
         2 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer which forms the polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(glycidyl acrylate), polyester, polyether, polysulfone, polyether ketone, epoxy resin and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the semimetal oxide or metal oxide is SiO 2 , TiO 2  or Al 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         4 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional groups A and B are able to enter into at least one covalent bond with one another by means of a ring closure reaction or ring-free reaction. 
     
     
         5 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional groups A and B are able to conduct a ring closure reaction with one another and wherein:
 i) when the functional group A is an azide group, the functional group B is a C—C double bond, C—C triple bond or C—N triple bond,   ii) when the functional group A is a C—C double bond or C—C triple bond, the functional group B is a C—C double bond or C—C triple bond,   iii) when the functional group A is a C—C double bond or C—C triple bond, the functional group B is a diene group or   iv) when the functional group A is selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde group, ketone group, imine group and thioketone group, the functional group B is a diene group.   
     
     
         6 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional groups A and B are able to conduct a ring-free reaction with one another and wherein:
 v) when the functional group A is a thiol group, the functional group B is a C—C double bond or C—C triple bond or   vi) when the functional group A is a C—C double bond or C—C triple bond, the functional group B is a thiol or amine group.   
     
     
         7 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer particle has a size of 0.5 to 50 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer particle has a further additive selected from the group consisting of a dye and a charge control additive. 
     
     
         9 . The polymer particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer particles having said at least one first functional group A and said at least one second functional group B are provided with a coating of an inorganic metal oxide or semimetal oxide. 
     
     
         10 . A three-dimensional structure, with or without a support structure, produced by a method comprising applying polymer particles according to  claim 1  to a support structure by an electrophotographic process. 
     
     
         11 . The three-dimensional structure with or without a support structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises a biocompatible polymer material and biofunctional toner particles. 
     
     
         12 . The three-dimensional structure with or without a support structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the structure is a test system, an implant, a carrier structure or a supply structure for tissue engineering processes and products, a biocompatible matrix for tissue culture or a transport system for liquids or gases.