PLA/PBAT composite powder prepared by thermally induced phase separation for selective laser sintering

Wanjun Li; Dongming Zou; Binling Chen; Yuan Wang

doi:10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120799

PLA/PBAT composite powder prepared by thermally induced phase separation for selective laser sintering

Wanjun Li, Dongming Zou, Binling Chen^*, Yuan Wang

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The application of selective laser sintering (SLS) across various industries is limited by the narrow range of available polymers. It is essential to develop new materials for SLS using sustainable methods. In this study, poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) composite powders with great flowability were prepared in different ratios using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The particle size, morphology, and wide sintering window of the PLA/PBAT composite powders demonstrated their suitability for SLS. Optimized process parameters enabled the successful manufacturing of various specimens via SLS. Tensile tests revealed that the addition of PBAT improved the mechanical properties of the composite, with 3.5 wt% PBAT yielding the best results. PLA/PBAT composite powders produced via this environmentally friendly method were shown to be viable for use in SLS.

Original language	English
Article number	120799
Journal	Powder Technology
Volume	455
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120799
Publication status	Published - 15 Apr 2025

Keywords

Mechanical properties
PLA/PBAT composite
SLS
TIPS

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10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120799

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title = "PLA/PBAT composite powder prepared by thermally induced phase separation for selective laser sintering",

abstract = "The application of selective laser sintering (SLS) across various industries is limited by the narrow range of available polymers. It is essential to develop new materials for SLS using sustainable methods. In this study, poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) composite powders with great flowability were prepared in different ratios using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The particle size, morphology, and wide sintering window of the PLA/PBAT composite powders demonstrated their suitability for SLS. Optimized process parameters enabled the successful manufacturing of various specimens via SLS. Tensile tests revealed that the addition of PBAT improved the mechanical properties of the composite, with 3.5 wt% PBAT yielding the best results. PLA/PBAT composite powders produced via this environmentally friendly method were shown to be viable for use in SLS.",

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author = "Wanjun Li and Dongming Zou and Binling Chen and Yuan Wang",

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doi = "10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120799",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - PLA/PBAT composite powder prepared by thermally induced phase separation for selective laser sintering

AU - Li, Wanjun

AU - Zou, Dongming

AU - Chen, Binling

AU - Wang, Yuan

PY - 2025/4/15

Y1 - 2025/4/15

N2 - The application of selective laser sintering (SLS) across various industries is limited by the narrow range of available polymers. It is essential to develop new materials for SLS using sustainable methods. In this study, poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) composite powders with great flowability were prepared in different ratios using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The particle size, morphology, and wide sintering window of the PLA/PBAT composite powders demonstrated their suitability for SLS. Optimized process parameters enabled the successful manufacturing of various specimens via SLS. Tensile tests revealed that the addition of PBAT improved the mechanical properties of the composite, with 3.5 wt% PBAT yielding the best results. PLA/PBAT composite powders produced via this environmentally friendly method were shown to be viable for use in SLS.

AB - The application of selective laser sintering (SLS) across various industries is limited by the narrow range of available polymers. It is essential to develop new materials for SLS using sustainable methods. In this study, poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) composite powders with great flowability were prepared in different ratios using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The particle size, morphology, and wide sintering window of the PLA/PBAT composite powders demonstrated their suitability for SLS. Optimized process parameters enabled the successful manufacturing of various specimens via SLS. Tensile tests revealed that the addition of PBAT improved the mechanical properties of the composite, with 3.5 wt% PBAT yielding the best results. PLA/PBAT composite powders produced via this environmentally friendly method were shown to be viable for use in SLS.

KW - Mechanical properties

KW - PLA/PBAT composite

KW - SLS

KW - TIPS

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U2 - 10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120799

DO - 10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120799

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85217746356

SN - 0032-5910

VL - 455

JO - Powder Technology

JF - Powder Technology

M1 - 120799

ER -

PLA/PBAT composite powder prepared by thermally induced phase separation for selective laser sintering

Abstract

Keywords

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