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A facile one step route that introduces functionality to polymer powders for laser sintering

Author

Listed:
  • Eduards Krumins

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Liam A. Crawford

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • David M. Rogers

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Fabricio Machado

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham
    University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro)

  • Vincenzo Taresco

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Mark East

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Samuel H. Irving

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Harriet R. Fowler

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Long Jiang

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Nichola Starr

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Christopher D. J. Parmenter

    (University Park, University of Nottingham)

  • Kristoffer Kortsen

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Simon V. Avery

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

  • Christopher J. Tuck

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Steven M. Howdle

    (University of Nottingham, University Park Nottingham)

Abstract

Laser Sintering (LS) is a type of Additive Manufacturing (AM) exploiting laser processing of polymeric particles to produce 3D objects. Because of its ease of processability and thermo-physical properties, polyamide-12 (PA-12) represents ~95% of the polymeric materials used in LS. This constrains the functionality of the items produced, including limited available colours. Moreover, PA-12 objects tend to biofoul in wet environments. Therefore, a key challenge is to develop an inexpensive route to introduce desirable functionality to PA-12. We report a facile, clean, and scalable approach to modification of PA-12, exploiting supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) and free radical polymerizations to yield functionalised PA-12 materials. These can be easily printed using commercial apparatus. We demonstrate the potential by creating coloured PA-12 materials and show that the same approach can be utilized to create anti-biofouling objects. Our approach to functionalise materials could open significant new applications for AM.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduards Krumins & Liam A. Crawford & David M. Rogers & Fabricio Machado & Vincenzo Taresco & Mark East & Samuel H. Irving & Harriet R. Fowler & Long Jiang & Nichola Starr & Christopher D. J. Parmenter, 2024. "A facile one step route that introduces functionality to polymer powders for laser sintering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47376-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47376-4
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