About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2022 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2022)
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Symposium
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2022 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2022)
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Presentation Title |
Powder Bed Fusion of Polypropylene Produced via Thermally Induced Phase Separation |
Author(s) |
Jackson S. Bryant, Akan George, Mark Dadmun, Michael Bortner, Christopher Williams |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jackson S. Bryant |
Abstract Scope |
Currently, in laser-based polymer powder bed fusion (LP-PBF) there has been little investigation into the determination of an optimal molecular weight (MW) and MW distribution for the polymers used in this process. In this work, the research team investigated processing polypropylene (PP) of various molecular weights (MW) via LP-PBF to understand how melt viscosity influenced densification during processing. PP powders with number average MWs of 12, 250, and 340 kDa were prepared for LP-PBF via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). It was hypothesized that lower melt viscosities would lead to faster densification during printing. Hot stage microscopy showed faster densification as MW decreased. Tensile tests and DMA showed decreasing MW led to a decrease in the necessary energy input to reach maximum density in the sample. This work provides a preliminary investigation into understanding how MW influences densification of PP printed via LP-PBF. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: Post-meeting proceedings |