Selective laser melting raw material commoditization: impact on comparative competitiveness of additive manufacturing

The paper analyses the impact of cheaper metal powder supplies on the comparative competitiveness of additive manufacturing (AM). By utilising two case studies, we compare the economic impact of an innovative titanium extraction method on Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and conventional methods of machining and casting. A switch-over analysis identifies the production quantities above which conventional manufacturing is more cost competitive than additive manufacturing. This analysis is performed for current raw material as well as cheaper raw material supply. The results illustrate the improved comparative competitiveness of SLM as the titanium supply is commoditised and more readily available in powder form. The responsiveness of the supply chain is improved as the switch-over point between SLM and conventional methods increases. Moreover, as the raw material supply chain for titanium is transformed through the use of this novel extraction method, the manufacturing supply chain is simplified.     

Threshold Fluence Measurement for Laser Liftoff of InP Thin Films by Selective Absorption

We explore conditions for achieving laser liftoff in epitaxially grown heterojunctions, in which single crystal thin films can be separated from their growth substrates using a selectively absorbing buried intermediate layer. Because this highly non‐linear process is subject to a variety of process instabilities, it is essential to accurately characterize the parameters resulting in liftoff. Here, we present an InP/InGaAs/InP heterojunction as a model system for such characterization. We show separation of InP thin films from single crystal InP growth substrates, wherein a ≈10 ns, Nd:YAG laser pulse selectively heats a coherently strained, buried InGaAs layer. We develop a technique to measure liftoff threshold fluences within an inhomogeneous laser spatial profile, and apply this technique to determine threshold fluences of the order 0.5 J cm^?2 for our specimens. We find that the fluence at the InGaAs layer is limited by non‐linear absorption and InP surface damage at high powers, and measure the energy transmission in an InP substrate from 0 to 8 J cm^?2. Characterization of the ejected thin films shows crack‐free, single crystal InP. Finally, we present evidence that the hot InGaAs initiates a liquid phase front that travels into the InP substrate during liftoff.

     

Improved algorithm for simulations of divergent-light halos

Divergent-light halos are produced when light from nearby light sources is scattered by ice crystals in the atmosphere. We present a theory of divergent-light halos leading to an improved algorithm for the simulation of such halos. Contrary to the algorithm that we presented earlier for simulating such halos, the new algorithm includes a mathematically rigorous weighting of the events. The computer implementation is very compact, and the whole procedure is elegant and conceptually easy to understand. We also present a new simulation atlas showing halos produced by crystals of different shapes and orientations for a set of elevations of the light source.     

Equilibrium sampling through membranes of freely dissolved copper concentrations with selective hollow fiber membranes and the spectrophotometric detection of a metal stripping agent

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of freely dissolved copper concentrations in aqueous samples after preconcentration with hollow fiber membrane extraction has been developed. The method is based on the equilibrium sampling through a selective membrane into an acceptor solution containing 4-(pyridyl-2-azo)resorcinol (PAR), which serves as stripping agent and metal indicator. Negligible extraction of interferences and equilibrium enrichment of copper allowed for selective spectrophotometric determination of the Cu-PAR complex. Some important extraction parameters such as acceptor composition, shaking, equilibrium time, and sample volume were studied. The optimized methodology showed good linearity in the range of 5-100 microg/L, an enrichment factor of 93, good repeatability and reproducibility (RSDs < 6%, n = 6), and a detection limit of 4 microg/L. The cationic metals Ni2+, C(2+, Cd2+, Fe3+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ were shown not to interfere with the measurement of Cu2+. Measurements on samples containing mixtures of various ligands and cations were in good agreement with theoretically calculated concentrations, and the method was also applied to environmental samples. The developed technique requires less labor and less sophisticated equipment than conventional methods typically based on atomic absorption spectrometry or ICP.     

In vitro cell-biological performance and structural characterization of selective laser sintered and plasma surface functionalized polycaprolactone scaffolds for bone regeneration

In the present study a structural characterization and in vitro cell-biological evaluation was performed on polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds that were produced by the additive manufacturing technique selective laser sintering (SLS), followed by a plasma-based surface modification technique, either non-thermal oxygen plasma or double protein coating, to functionalize the PCL scaffold surfaces. In the first part of this study pore morphology by means of 2D optical microscopy, surface chemistry by means of hydrophilicity measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, strut surface roughness by means of 3D micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging and scaffold mechanical properties by means of compression testing were evaluated before and after the surface modifications. The results showed that both surface modifications increased the PCL scaffold hydrophilicity without altering the morphological and mechanical properties. In the second part of this study the in vitro cell proliferation and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells, over 14 days of culture in osteogenic and growth medium were investigated. The O₂ plasma modification gave rise to a significant lower in vitro cell proliferation compared to the untreated and double protein coated scaffolds. Furthermore the double protein coating increased in vitro cell metabolic activity and cell differentiation compared to the untreated and O₂ plasma PCL scaffolds when OM was used.     

Synthesis and mechanism study of mesoporous SnO2/SiO2 composites

Mesoporous SnO2/SiO2 composite particles (Si/Sn < or = 0.25) sustainable to calcination up to 600 degrees C have been fabricated using a stepwise sol-gel technique on nonionic surfactant template (tetradecylamine, TDA). The newly designed preparation method involved the pre-formation of SnO2 sol solution from SnCl4. Subsequently, SnO2 nanocrystals were covered by the silicate species (from the hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate, TEOS) in a pH controlled colloidal solution. Upon mixing with the surfactant solution, mesophase composite was obtained. After the removal of templates at various temperatures (400 to 600 degrees C), worm-like mesoporous SnO2/SiO2 with large specific surface area and pore volume as high as 362 m2/g and 0.33 cc/g were obtained, respectively. High thermal stability is mainly due to the effective inhibition of SnO2 crystal growth (mean crystallite size <30 A) by the amorphous SiO2 species at the grain boundaries. Formation of mesoporous silicate skeleton such as M41S family material was prevented. The obtained materials maintain the relatively narrow pore size distribution typically in the range of 30 to 70 A. Relations between material properties and key synthesis parameters (i.e. TDA/Si/Sn molar ratio and calcination temperature) were investigated by TGA, wide/small-angle X-ray scattering, (HR)TEM, BET, and FTIR techniques. Mechanisms on the mesostructure formation and crystal growth inhibition were also proposed with detailed discussion.