Smoother and stronger high speed sintered elastomers through surface modification process. (2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Norazman, Farhana; Smith, Patrick; Ellis, Adam; Hopkinson, Neil
• Is Part Of: International journal of rapid manufacturing. Volume 6:Number 2/3(2017)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2017
• Subjects: additive manufacturing -- elongation at break -- HSS -- high speed sintering -- mechanical properties -- polymer sintering -- powder bed fusion -- PUSh process -- shore hardness -- surface modification -- surface roughness -- surface quality -- tear strength -- tensile strength -- thermoplastic elastomers -- Young&amp -- #39 -- s modulus -- part shrinkage -- part hardness; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; 670.4205
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-8817

Abstract

High speed sintering is a novel additive manufacturing process which creates parts by employing a combination of inkjet printing and infrared heating to sinter successive layers of polymer powder. This paper investigates the effect of a new surface modification method called the PUSh™ process on the mechanical properties of high speed sintered elastomer. ALM TPE210-S elastomeric powder was used to manufacture specimens, and the PUSh™ process was subsequently performed on selected specimens. Surface roughness and mechanical properties of TPE210-S specimens were measured. The results show that the PUSh™ process reduced surface roughness by 50% from 20 to 10 µm. Finished specimens had 50% higher values of ultimate tensile strength, Young's modulus and elongation at break compared to unfinished specimens, and tear strength was significantly improved by 233%. The process resulted in 3% average part shrinkage while part hardness remains unchanged. Overall, the mechanical properties of high speed sintered TPE210-S elastomer were improved by the PUSh™ process.