Polymer Powder Bed Fusion
Polymer Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) uses a laser to selectively sinter thermoplastic powders, typically semi-crystalline materials such as PA12. It enables high design freedom, durable mechanical properties, and batch-style manufacturing, making it a leading polymer AM technology.
At the DREAMS Lab, we have been broadening the material-process space for polymer PBF. We demonstrated the processing of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) at bed temperatures well below its melting point, challenging conventional assumptions. Our group continues to investigate the effects of thermal histories, and crystallization phenomena, linking them to part performance and printability.