Laser Sintering of Polyamide 12 Nanocomposites: Combined Effects of Plasma Treatment and Laser Energy

The current research studied the influence of plasma surface modification on the morphological and mechanical properties of 3D printed polyamide 12 composites. These composites were produced via laser sintering at three laser energies, 13, 17, and 21 W. Thus, the influence of the laser energies on the nanocomposites’ characteristics was also considered. The surface characteristics of the reinforcing materials, untreated and plasma-treated organically modified nanoclay, were characterized using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, SEM was also utilized to investigate the fractured surfaces of 3D printed parts made from untreated and plasma-treated nanoclay/polyamide 12 composites after testing for measuring tensile properties (ultimate stress, strain, and elastic modulus). Based on SEM observations, agglomerated sheeted structures were observed in untreated nanoclay. However, these were relatively avoided after plasma treatment, and a more uniform distribution of nanoclay layers on polyamide 12 was observed compared with the untreated ones. This resulted in an improved elastic modulus of plasma-treated nanoclay/polyamide 12 nanocomposites when compared with these results for pure polyamide 12 and untreated nanoclay/polyamide 12 nanocomposites. These results, therefore, provide evidence of a successful combination of laser sintering and plasma treatment.