In this work, the influence of the filler matrix adhesion on the tensile properties of laser-sintered parts built with Polyamide 613 filled with glass beads was investigated. For this purpose, dry blends of glass beads with and without organosilane coupling agents and polyamide powder were prepared and processed into tensile specimens on an EOS P396. The samples were tested both in the dry state and after an accelerated conditioning in a climate chamber. Furthermore, FEM simulations were performed to model the limiting cases of optimum adhesion and no adhesion. By correlating the tensile tests with the simulation results and by analyzing the fracture surfaces, it was shown that the filler matrix adhesion is sufficient in the dry state but is strongly degraded by conditioning. Even the presence of various organosilane thin films could not prevent a strong deterioration of the filler-matrix adhesion and the associated deterioration of the mechanical properties. Since a comparison with an injection molded sample of the same polymer filler combination shows identical behavior after conditioning, it is assumed that this problem is not limited to additively manufactured parts.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.