Characterization of Mechanically Alloyed Polymer Blends for Selective Laser Sintering 92

Cryogenic mechanical alloying (CMA) is presented in this work as an effective technique for creating materials for selective laser sintering (SLS) applications. CMA offers a solid state method for creating micro-composites consisting of finely dispersed phases, which can then be selectively laser sintered into parts containing co-continuous phases. Particle size and shape, microstructure, and melting characteristics of mechanically alloyed particles are discussed in terms of applications to the SLS process. The characteristics of several model polymer blend systems are investigated using scanning electron microscopy, light scattering particle size analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Although only polymer/polymer blend particles are studied here, the CMA process is also a viable technique for creating SLS powders using ceramics or metals.