HelixJet: An innovative plasma source for next‐generation additive manufacturing (3D printing). Issue 1 (12th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schäfer, Jan; Quade, Antje; Abrams, Kerry J.; Sigeneger, Florian; Becker, Markus M.; Majewski, Candice; Rodenburg, Cornelia
• Is Part Of: Plasma processes and polymers. Volume 17:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-08-12
• Subjects: additive manufacturing -- electron microscopy -- plasma printing -- polyamide -- thermography; Plasma polymerization -- Periodicals; Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; Plasma chemistry -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201900099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1612-8850

Abstract

Abstract: A novel plasma source (HelixJet) for use in additive manufacturing (AM)/3D printing is proposed. The HelixJet is a capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma with a double‐helix electrode configuration that generates a surprisingly stable and homogeneous glow plasma at low flow rates of argon and its mixtures at atmospheric pressure. The HelixJet was tested on three polyamide powders usually used to produce parts by laser sintering, a powder‐based AM process, to form local deposits. The chemical composition of such plasma‐printed samples is compared with thermally produced and laser‐sintered samples with respect to differences in morphology that result from the different thermal cycles on several length scales. Plasma prints exhibit unique features attributable to the nonequilibrium chemistry and to the high‐speed heat exchange. Abstract : The feasibility of localised plasma printing of polyamide powders using the highly uniform and stable glow plasma generated by HelixJet ‐ a new atmospheric pressure plasma jet as novel additive manufacturing tool is investigated, experimentally by high‐speed infrared (IR) thermography, scanning electron microscopy, and IR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and theoretically by modelling of electric and temperature fields.