• Lalwani, Aakil Raj
• Grønborg, Frederik
• Daugaard, Anders Egede
• Wolstrup, Anders Frem
• Budden, Christian Leslie
• Zsurzsan, Tiberiu-Gabriel
• Pedersen, David Bue

Abstract

The efficacy of manufacturing conductive plastic components by the Material Extrusion (MEX) method has been shown previously by Grønborg et al. [1]. To increase the effectiveness of additive manufacturing of these sensors a study utilising Polymer Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) technique has been undertaken. The study investigates; the conductive networks created during manufacturing and the influence of processing parameters on the conductivity of the parts. The test specimen has been manufactured on the Open Architecture Polymer L-PBF system developed at the Technical University of Denmark. Utilising the capability of full-scale process control, and the implemented high-power fiber laser to achieve consolidation of the powder. The feedstock material has been designed to allow high energy absorption at the fiber laser wavelength (1080 nm), and thermal properties to comply with the L-PBF process. A conductive network manufactured by the Polymer L-PBF process is demonstrated. The parts produced have been tested by measuring the material's conductivity at the initial unaltered state, and further investigated by SEM micrographs to conclude on the stability of the manufactured parts.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• scanning electron microscopy
• extrusion
• selective laser melting
• material extrusion
• polymer blend