Manufacture of polymer powders for the industrial SFF system by using SLS process

Polyamide 12 were studied as the laser sintering materials for the three-dimensional duplicator equipment of selective laser sintering process. Though polymer powders had a similar chemical structure, there were some differences in thermal properties, particle size and distribution, and shape. These variations had a close relation with the processibility of laser sintering. As far as the particle shape approached a spherical shape, the processibility was improved. The particle size distribution played an important role in the precision of fabrication. The polymer powders with uniform size and higher bulk density were successfully prepared by controlling several finely-controlled steps, such as dissolution, nucleation, propagation and crystallization, in wet process. Several additives were added to improve the thermal, rheological, and flow properties further.