Selective Laser Sintering of Cu-Pb/Sn Solder Powders

Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) as an overall approach in the manufacturing field has been applied to very different areas and on different materials systems including polymers, ceramics, metals and vapor phase. Even though it is clear that polymers have enjoyed a rapid and successful advance in terms of applications, research in the other areas have shown potential applications as well. In this paper, Cu-Sn/Pb solder and Cu-Sn blends have been used as starting material for the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) manufacture of SFF objects. The general properties of the objects thus produced are presented. In particular, density and microstructural characterizations results are discussed..