Direct Selective Laser Sintering of High Temperature Materials

Abstract

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) involving a coexisting liquid and particulate solid during
\nthe SLS processing can be used to produce freeform parts directly with high temperature
\nmaterials. Factors such as scanning laser power density, residence time, scan line spacing, the
\ninterfacial energies between the liquid and solid phases, powder bed biasing temperature, and
\nsintering atmosphere greatly affect the microstructure evolution in the SLS process. Direct
\nSLS of high melting temperature mixed powder materials was demonstrated using a 1.1 kW
\nC02 laser SLS system. The relationship between the microstructures and the process
\nparameters will be described.