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Powder Bed Fusion: powder flowability analysis and correlation
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Keywords: PBF SLS Polymers powders
Laser sintering (LS) or laser-based powder bed fusion with polymers (PBF-LB/P) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that is already widely used in industry but still relies on very few base materials.
Inspire has been involved for many years in development projects for new LS powders that are expected to be reliably processable and usable in new LS applications. The design of novel LS materials is very challenging, as a large number of specific criteria have to be met simultaneously. The intrinsic properties of the base polymer, such as correct thermal, rheological and optical behavior on the one hand, and the distribution of the powder and especially the particle shape and structure (extrinsic properties) on the other hand, are crucial for successful LS processing. In particular, the flowability and fluidisation of powders based on particle parameters are important factors for understanding the process behavior of powders intended for LS.
Today, there are several laboratory-based methods for investigating the flowability/fluidisation of powders. However, the methods apply a different stress level to the materials and lead to hardly comparable results. In addition, the methods and investigations are usually carried out at room temperature, whereas the actual LS process takes place at elevated temperature. Therefore, the results on the flowability of LS powder generated with different measuring systems are hardly comparable with each other and also do not reflect the reality of high process temperatures. Therefore, in the present project, a systematic extension of the investigations with different measuring systems at different loads and temperatures is to be carried out in order to correlate the results with powder parameters such as distribution and particle shape and finally with the LS-process itself.
Laser sintering (LS) or laser-based powder bed fusion with polymers (PBF-LB/P) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that is already widely used in industry but still relies on very few base materials. Inspire has been involved for many years in development projects for new LS powders that are expected to be reliably processable and usable in new LS applications. The design of novel LS materials is very challenging, as a large number of specific criteria have to be met simultaneously. The intrinsic properties of the base polymer, such as correct thermal, rheological and optical behavior on the one hand, and the distribution of the powder and especially the particle shape and structure (extrinsic properties) on the other hand, are crucial for successful LS processing. In particular, the flowability and fluidisation of powders based on particle parameters are important factors for understanding the process behavior of powders intended for LS. Today, there are several laboratory-based methods for investigating the flowability/fluidisation of powders. However, the methods apply a different stress level to the materials and lead to hardly comparable results. In addition, the methods and investigations are usually carried out at room temperature, whereas the actual LS process takes place at elevated temperature. Therefore, the results on the flowability of LS powder generated with different measuring systems are hardly comparable with each other and also do not reflect the reality of high process temperatures. Therefore, in the present project, a systematic extension of the investigations with different measuring systems at different loads and temperatures is to be carried out in order to correlate the results with powder parameters such as distribution and particle shape and finally with the LS-process itself.
Not specified
Dr. M. Schmid
Head R&D SLM
Inspire AG – Innovation centre for additive manufacturing (icams), St.Gallen
manfred.schmid@inspire.ethz.ch
Tel. +41 71 523 62 02
Dr. M. Schmid Head R&D SLM Inspire AG – Innovation centre for additive manufacturing (icams), St.Gallen manfred.schmid@inspire.ethz.ch Tel. +41 71 523 62 02
Each year the IDEA League offers the students of its partner universities over 180 monthly grants for a short-term research exchange. In general, these grants are awarded based on academic merit. For more information visit http://idealeague.org/student-grant/