ASSESSING THE INTERACTION OF A LASER BEAM AND POLYMERIC POWDERS IN POLYMER LASER SINTERING.

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Title: ASSESSING THE INTERACTION OF A LASER BEAM AND POLYMERIC POWDERS IN POLYMER LASER SINTERING.
Authors: Mwania, Fredrick1 fredmulinge@gmail.com, Maringa, Maina2 maringa@mut.ac.ke, van der Walt, Jacobus1 jgvdwalt@cut.ac.za
Source: Nonconventional Technologies Review / Revista de Tehnologii Neconventionale. Jun2026, Vol. 30 Issue 2, p3-22. 20p.
Subjects: Laser sintering, Laser beams, Prediction models, Dimensional analysis, Process optimization, Composite particles (Composite materials), Computer simulation
Abstract: Polymer laser sintering (PLS) has received considerable attention for the last four decades. However, some of its aspects are not well understood to date. This study aims to shed light on the complex interaction between a laser beam and polymeric powder particles during sintering, which is a critical stage in PLS. In this work, an analytical model linking the degree of fusion of particles of powder with their material properties together with process-parameters was developed using dimensional analysis and the Buckingham Ω theorem. It was proved using experimental data that the developed analytical model can be used to optimise different processparameters by establishing a set of parameters providing the highest value of a proposed parameter to represent the degree of fusion of particles (O). This value for polypropylene powder (Ultrasint PP nat 01 from BASF) was approximated as 0.25, based on suitable process-parameters. Numerical modelling was conducted using Flow 3D software to investigate the characteristics of depth and width of a melt pool because these aspects are essential indicators of the stability of PLS and the quality of the final parts printed using polymer laser sintering. The obtained simulation results showed that melt pool width and depth increased with increasing laser power and decreased with increasing scanning speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Nonconventional Technologies Review / Revista de Tehnologii Neconventionale is the property of Asociatia Romana de Tehnologii Neconventionale (ARTN) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 194836290
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  Data: ASSESSING THE INTERACTION OF A LASER BEAM AND POLYMERIC POWDERS IN POLYMER LASER SINTERING.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mwania%2C+Fredrick%22">Mwania, Fredrick</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> fredmulinge@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maringa%2C+Maina%22">Maringa, Maina</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> maringa@mut.ac.ke</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22van+der+Walt%2C+Jacobus%22">van der Walt, Jacobus</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> jgvdwalt@cut.ac.za</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nonconventional+Technologies+Review+%2F+Revista+de+Tehnologii+Neconventionale%22">Nonconventional Technologies Review / Revista de Tehnologii Neconventionale</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 30 Issue 2, p3-22. 20p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Laser+sintering%22">Laser sintering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Laser+beams%22">Laser beams</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prediction+models%22">Prediction models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dimensional+analysis%22">Dimensional analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Process+optimization%22">Process optimization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Composite+particles+%28Composite+materials%29%22">Composite particles (Composite materials)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+simulation%22">Computer simulation</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Polymer laser sintering (PLS) has received considerable attention for the last four decades. However, some of its aspects are not well understood to date. This study aims to shed light on the complex interaction between a laser beam and polymeric powder particles during sintering, which is a critical stage in PLS. In this work, an analytical model linking the degree of fusion of particles of powder with their material properties together with process-parameters was developed using dimensional analysis and the Buckingham Ω theorem. It was proved using experimental data that the developed analytical model can be used to optimise different processparameters by establishing a set of parameters providing the highest value of a proposed parameter to represent the degree of fusion of particles (O). This value for polypropylene powder (Ultrasint PP nat 01 from BASF) was approximated as 0.25, based on suitable process-parameters. Numerical modelling was conducted using Flow 3D software to investigate the characteristics of depth and width of a melt pool because these aspects are essential indicators of the stability of PLS and the quality of the final parts printed using polymer laser sintering. The obtained simulation results showed that melt pool width and depth increased with increasing laser power and decreased with increasing scanning speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Nonconventional Technologies Review / Revista de Tehnologii Neconventionale is the property of Asociatia Romana de Tehnologii Neconventionale (ARTN) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 3
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Laser sintering
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Laser beams
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prediction models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dimensional analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Process optimization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Composite particles (Composite materials)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer simulation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: ASSESSING THE INTERACTION OF A LASER BEAM AND POLYMERIC POWDERS IN POLYMER LASER SINTERING.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mwania, Fredrick
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            NameFull: Maringa, Maina
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            NameFull: van der Walt, Jacobus
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 30
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            – TitleFull: Nonconventional Technologies Review / Revista de Tehnologii Neconventionale
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