Effect of Additives on Sinterability and Densification of Laser-Sintered Metal Powder

Abstract

Direct laser sintering a Cu-based metal powder has successfully been carried out. The influence of additives on the wettability and sinterability of laser-sintered Cu-based metal powder has been investigated. In the present investigation, three kinds of additives, i.e. manganese, graphite and braze flux were added in the Cu-based alloy powder. It has been observed that addition of the additives can improve the wettablity and hence increase the densification of sintered parts. Although the three additives have almost similar effects on wettability, the influences of these three additives on densification and surface morphologies are different. Braze flux showed promising results in improving direct laser sintering process. The relative density of the sample with additive of braze flux enhanced 7.1% compared to the sample with no additive. The sample with graphite additive showed a rough surface and the sample with additive of Mn powder showed some hollows.