Infiltration process in selective laser sintering

Abstract

The technological process of infiltration is widely used as a method of postprocessing of additive manufacturing products (SLS, SLM) to reduce the technological porosity of the resulting products and increase their functionality. Infiltration is carried out outside the main installation (in the furnace). It is based on the penetration of infiltrated substances, which have a lower melting point compared to the main material, into the pores of the product due to the capillary effect, which significantly increases the density. The technology is used for products obtained by sintering metal, non-metallic powders, composite compositions. The essence of the infiltration method is that a cellular framework is formed from the powder of a more refractory component, and then the pores are filled with a molten low-melting component (metal or alloy). To improve infiltration, a small amount (2.5÷5.0%) of infiltrate powder or any other lowmelting substance is added to the powder of the refractory component before molding [1].