Polymer viscosity, particle coalescence and mechanical performance in high-temperature laser sintering

High-temperature laser sintering (HT-LS) is an additive manufacturing technology whose potential could be limited by the restricted number of materials optimised for the process. Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) with different melt viscosity values, PEEK 150PF and PEEK 450PF, have been used in parallel with the commercial grade, poly ether ketone (PEK) HP3, to investigate the role of material viscosity on particle coalescence, structure and mechanical performance of components manufactured in HT-LS. The material with lower viscosity, PEEK 150PF, was found to exhibit faster coalescence and lower tensile strength than the grades with higher viscosities, PEEK 450PF and PEK HP3.