Thermal Aspects of Selective Laser Sintering of PMMA+β-TCP Composites

Biocompatible and osteoconductive characteristics expected of materials used for bone grafting applications identified Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and β-Tri Calcium Phosphate (βTCP) combinations to be potential biopolymer composite options. Together with additive manufacturing methods such as selective laser sintering (SLS), these materials options would also bring about the benefits of free from fabrication. While earlier research laser sintering PMMA+β-TCP composites experimentally proved the combination to be promising, the resulting microstructures are indicative of varied coalescence and consolidation with varying amounts of β-TCP. Considering the differential thermal properties, it becomes necessary and interesting to evaluate the possible role of the filler material in altering the nature of the thermal fields. This paper presents results of numerical and experimental work carried out investigating the thermal fields of laser sintered PMMA+β-TCP composites.