About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2021 Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF Symp 2021)
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Symposium
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Special Session
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Presentation Title |
Dopant Patterning for Volumetric Sintering via RF Heating |
Author(s) |
Jared Allison, Carolyn Seepersad, John Pearce, Joseph Beaman, Ali Sohaib, Christopher Tuck, Richard Hague |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jared Allison |
Abstract Scope |
Radio frequency (RF) radiation is a potential energy source for volumetric sintering of selectively doped polymer powder beds. Owing to the large difference in their electrical properties, mixtures of nylon and graphite powders generate sufficient heat in the presence of RF radiation to cause local fusion of the powders, whereas undoped nylon powder remains transparent to RF radiation. By selectively doping regions of the powder bed that correspond to the part geometry and exposing the entire powder bed to RF radiation, it is possible to volumetrically sinter parts. However, the doped geometry causes distortions in the applied electric field that result in non-uniform heating within the part. The geometric effects are mitigated through computational strategies to functionally grade the dopant concentration throughout the part volume. The design of a mechanism for patterning the dopant is presented, and the heating uniformity improvements from functional grading are demonstrated for various geometries. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: Post-meeting proceedings |