Evaluation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) powder as a material for selective laser sintering, and characterization of printed part

This work reports the finding that poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET] powder is a good material for use in selective laser sintering (SLS). SLS of polymer powders is one of the 3D printing or “additive manufacturing” methods. However, the use of SLS for polymers has been stymied by a paucity of suitable powders. Polyamide 12 (PA 12) has been the best material for SLS, and it is commercially the dominant one currently. However, for wider adoption of SLS as a manufacturing method, powders from cheaper commodity polymers are sought. Curling, gross porosity and a lack of print accuracy are problems faced with many polymers. In this work, we have established that highly crystalline PET powder is surprisingly good for SLS, having a wide operating window. The PET powder gave sharp details in printed objects, and the surface finish and gloss were superior to PA 12. Further, the unused PET powder from the build chamber showed good retention of material properties like molecular weight, despite being exposed to heat for prolonged periods. Due to the expense of SLS powders, re‐use capability is also an important requirement of the material. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1888–1900, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers