Aliphatic Polyester Resin Powder for Selective Laser Sintering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current polymer powdery raw materials for selective laser sintering (SLS) lack uniform particle size, shape, and surface smoothness, affecting the performance and precision of molded products.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the heat dissolution of crystalline aliphatic polyester resin in organic solvents like ketones or cyclic ethers, followed by controlled cooling and optional addition of adjuvants, to produce aliphatic polyester resin powder with uniform particle size and shape, suitable for SLS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cryogenic pulverization method is used to prepare polymer powders, then the method is widely applicable to different polymers, but the particle surface is rough, particle size is not uniform, and shape is irregular
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of powder preparation from mechanical pulverization to chemical dissolution and precipitation. By controlling solution concentration, cooling rate, and precipitation conditions, uniform spherical particles with smooth surfaces are obtained, resolving the contradiction between versatility and manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition from dissolved state to precipitated state during cooling. The polymer solution undergoes controlled phase separation upon cooling, forming uniform spherical particles naturally, which eliminates the surface roughness and size irregularity problems of mechanical pulverization while maintaining broad polymer applicability
2Ease of manufacture
If precipitation method with alcoholic solvents is used to prepare polyamide powders, then the process is simple, but the particle morphology and size distribution are not optimized for SLS
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes precipitation parameters including solvent type (non-alcoholic), solution concentration (5-20%), cooling rate (0.5-5°C/min), and precipitation temperature. These parameter changes produce uniform spherical particles with controlled size distribution while maintaining process simplicity, directly addressing the SLS requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical pulverization with a chemical-physical process of dissolution and controlled precipitation. This substitution naturally forms uniform spherical particles without mechanical impact, achieving both process simplicity and manufacturing precision simultaneously
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional polymer powders are used for SLS, then various polymer types can be processed, but the molded products exhibit large dimensional deviations, poor surface regularity, and high porosity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the particle morphology parameters (spherical shape, uniform size, smooth surface) through controlled precipitation. These parameter changes improve powder flowability and packing density, which directly translate to reduced dimensional deviations and improved surface quality in SLS molded products while maintaining polymer type versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary particle formation and size control during the precipitation process before SLS processing. By pre-forming uniform spherical particles with optimized morphology, the subsequent SLS process achieves better dimensional accuracy and surface quality without sacrificing polymer type flexibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method yields aliphatic polyester resin powder with improved morphology, dispersibility, and flowability, resulting in high-quality sintered products with reduced dimensional deviations and enhanced mechanical properties.
Implementation Method 1
heat dissolving a crystalline aliphatic polyester resin in an organic solvent to obtain an aliphatic polyester resin solution
Implementation Method 2
cooling the aliphatic polyester resin solution to precipitate a solid, thereby obtaining a solid-liquid mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing an aliphatic polyester resin powder includes the steps ofa) heat dissolving a crystalline aliphatic polyester resin in an organic solvent to obtain an aliphatic polyester resin solution;b) cooling the aliphatic polyester resin solution to precipitate a solid, thereby obtaining a solid-liquid mixture;c) optionally adding an adjuvant to the solid-liquid mixture and mixing; andd) conducting solid-liquid separation and drying to obtain an aliphatic polyester resin powder suitable for selective laser sintering.The crystalline aliphatic polyester resin powder obtained has good antioxidant property, good powder flowability, moderate size, smooth surface, suitable bulk density, and suitable dispersibility and particle size distribution. The aliphatic polyester resin powder is particularly suitable for selective laser sintering method.