Characterization of PA 12 Matrix Composites Produced by Selective Laser Sintering Method

Year 2024, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 7 - 11, 26.07.2024

Umut Can Cingöz Burçin Özbay Alptekin Kısasöz

Abstract

The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) method is a promising additive manufacturing (AM) technique for the production of thermoplastic polymers and polymer composite materials. Polyamides, Polyamide 12 (PA 12) and Polyamide 11 (PA 11), followed by Polyamide 6 (PA 6), are the most widely used matrix materials for the SLS AM method. Various additives are made from polymer materials to provide the desired physical, mechanical, and tribological properties. In this study, composites with PA 12 matrix were produced by SLS method with 20% hollow ceramic microsphere (W) reinforcement. Before production, PA 12 and ceramic additives were mixed by dry mixing method with a rotary tumbler. Then, thermal analysis ((Differential Scanning Microscopy (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)) was performed to characterize the thermal properties of the powder mixture. One of the most important factors affecting SLS production is the production parameters. In this study, composite samples and virgin PA 12 were produced with various SLS production parameters such as laser energy, scanning speed and hatch distance, and the effect of energy values on physical and mechanical properties were investigated. The mechanical properties of the samples were determined by impact tests. Also, the fracture surfaces of the studied samples were analysed.

Keywords

PA 12 composite, selective laser sintering (SLS), mechanical properties, ceramic additives.

Ethical Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Supporting Institution

This project was supported by Yıldız Technical University Scientific Research Projects (YTU-BAPK) with project number FYL-2023-6036. This study was also supported by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, Aluminum Test, Training and Research Center.

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