Deformation kinetics of PA-12 components processed using the AM-SLS technology

Resumen

The additive manufacturing technique by selective laser sintering (AM-SLS), is a layer-by-layer manufacturing process that is increasingly gaining more interest in different industrial sectors. Components with complex geometries and good mechanical properties can be obtained in a relatively short time using AM-SLS. However, the orientation of the layers, in which the parts are manufactured is something to consider. In engineering, it is necessary to know in detail the mechanical behavior of these parts. Among others, the visco-elastic behavior is a significant aspect when estimating the durability of the components obtained by this manufacturing process. In the present research, the visco-elastic mechanical properties, which depend on the strain rate, of PA-12 compression specimens manufactured by AM-SLS at two different layer orientations, 0º and 90º, are quantified and compared. For this, the material has been characterized with uniaxial tensile tests and an experimental program has been developed for compression tests at different strain rates and at two different layer orientations (0º and 90º). In addition, a fractographic analysis has been carried out using SEM images of the tensile test specimens to understand the failure mode of the material processed by AM-SLS. The experimental results of the compression specimens obtained with different orientations have been analyzed using the Eyring flow model. The PA-12 material has manifested a thermorheologically complex behavior. In addition, due to the anisotropy associated with the manufacturing layer orientations, the mechanical properties show differences, both in values and in strain rate dependence.