Bending and compression tests for PA 2200 parts obtained using Selective Laser Sintering method

Craniofacial bone defects that produce morphological and functional disabilities can bring alteration of the quality of patient’s life. For this reason, the collaboration between the field of medicine with engineering, lead to the manufacture of custom implants from biocompatible materials. In the last years it was shown that Additive Manufacturing methods are very helpful to achieve customized medical implants. All the customized implants made of biocompatible materials have to be tested for mechanical properties, in order to have the optimal characteristics for the area were will be used. This paper presents the results for bending and compression tests for a biocompatible material, PA 2200. The samples were achieved using Selective Laser Sintering method and were obtained with different laser power, starting with 4 W. Maximum load, maximum stress, specific deformation and Young's modulus were analysed. The study showed that different mechanical properties can be obtained, depending on the laser power used. At bending tests, increasing values were obtained for the investigated parameters along with laser power increasing, but at compression tests a different trend was observed.