Comparison of crystallization characteristics and mechanical properties of poly(butylene terephthalate) processed by laser sintering and injection molding
The possibility of selective laser sintering (SLS) of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) was evaluated. Powder formed by pulverizing copolymer PBT (cPBT) pellets by cryomilling was used for SLS. It was revealed that in regard to the powder, metallic contaminants generated by the cryomilling acted as crystallization nucleating agents, and the crystallization temperature of the powder was increased in comparison to that of the pellets. Moreover, SLS specimens fabricated by using cPBT resin powder were compared with an injection-molded (IM) specimen in terms of mechanical properties, crystallization characteristics, and porosity. In the case of the SLS specimens, under a processing condition that gives the lowest porosity, the highest mechanical properties were attained. In comparison to the mechanical properties of the IM specimen, however, all the values (except elastic modulus) of the SLS specimens were lower. Moreover, it was revealed that the SLS specimen has a finer crystal structure than that of the IM specimen.