Finite element analysis of high strength polymers interaction with inhibitors in selective inhibition sintering process

Selective Inhibition of Sintering (SIS) is a predominant Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) technique to produce parts out of polymers and metals. The present work considers sintering interaction phenomenon between high strength polymers and inhibitors using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Transient thermal coupled with structural analysis is performed for various high strength polymers such as Polyamideimide (PAI), Polyetherimide (PEI), Polyphthalamide (PPA), and Poly Tetra Fluoro Ethylene (PTFE) with inhibitors Potassium iodide (KI), Potassium chloride (KCl), and Sodium chloride (NaCl). Simulation results suggested that the effect of heat is more influencing on PAI which obtained minimal structural displacement in comparison with other polymers. Compared with NaCl, the inhibitors KCl and KI provided greater inhibition effect which will be employed in SIS additive manufacturing process to manufacture high strength and dimensionally stable plastic parts. © Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2017.