Polyamide composites manufactured by selective laser sintering: effect of glass particle reinforcement on mechanical properties
摘要
Selective laser sintering (SLS) technology allows additive manufacturing of complex parts by sintering of thermoplastic polymeric powders with a CO2 laser. In this study, mechanical properties of composites made of polyamide 12 (PA12) modified by addition of glass beads and short glass fibers are investigated and compared to those of pure PA12. Elastic moduli and strength values were determined in a series of tensile, bending, and compression tests. Fracture toughness and critical strain energy release rate were obtained in Mode I fracture tests. Impact toughness was studied using Charpy tests. Cyclic tension–compression experiments were performed to assess the influence of the printing direction and glass additives on fatigue life. Microscopic analysis of fracture surfaces was performed to study different types of micro-scale defects. Conclusions were made about the influence of printing parameters and shape of glass particles on the effective mechanical response of the material. It was shown that addition of glass beads allows for a much greater improvement in elastic moduli of PA12 rather than short fibers, while pure PA12 printed in horizontal orientation demonstrates remarkable strength properties compared to the reinforced materials.