Increased usage of selective laser sintering (SLS) for the production of end-use functional components has generated a requirement of developing new materials and process improvements to improve the applicability of this technique. This article discusses a novel process wherein carbon black was applied to the surface of TPU powder to reduce the laser reflectivity during the SLS process. The printing was carried out with a preheating temperature of 75 °C, laser energy density of 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe inkjet printing of metal electrodes on polymer films is a desirable manufacturing process due to its simplicity but is limited by the lack of thermal stability and serious delaminating flaws in various aqueous and organic solutions. Kapton, adopted worldwide due to its superior thermal durability, allows the high-temperature sintering of nanoparticle-based metal inks. By carefully selecting inks (Ag and Au) and Kapton substrates (Kapton HN films with a thickness of 135 μm and a thermal resistance of up to 400 °C) with optimal printing parameters and simplified post-treatments (sintering), outstanding film integrity, thermal stability, and antidelaminating features were obtained in both aqueous and organic solutions without any pretreatment strategy (surface modification).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF