Characterization of nanofillers - reinforced polymeric composite products fabricated by selective laser sintering

Being one of the newest Additive Manufacturing methods in the modern industry, Selective Laser Sintering is capable using a wide range of materials to print objects with extreme complex shapes. However, there are still large numbers of undiscovered characteristics in both available printing materials and the process factors involved in this method. Various tests such as tensile test and compression test had been carried out by the author to determine the mechanical properties of the samples produced from the Polyamide 12-Carbon Nanotube, 1 wt% composite (PA12-CNTs, 1 wt%). The main aim of the project is to determine the effects of various parameters such as the laser power, the laser scanning speed and the laser scanning spacing on the mechanical properties of the standard samples produced from this composite powder and to evaluate the correlation between these parameters stated above. Identical tensile samples were 3D printed by using EOSINT P-395 and subjected to tensile testing to evaluate the mechanical performances. Further comparison with the mechanical properties obtained previously from using PA12-CNT, 0.5 wt% samples was carried out. PA12-CNT composite with the better mechanical performance was selected to produce various cellular lattices for further study. Compression tests were conducted on the lattice samples by using the INSTRON 5569 to analyze their compressive behaviors under uniaxial load. Lastly, the most suitable unit cellular design for real time structural applications were identified.Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering