Problems and prospects of selective layer-by-layer laser sintering of powders

The present state, problems, and prospects for the development of a new powder metallurgy technique, called selective layer-by-layer laser sintering, are considered. With this technique three-dimensional powder products can be obtained without resorting to traditional forming methods. The results of experiments in which one-component and multicomponent mixtures based on metals, ceramics, and polymers were sintered in the solid and liquid phase by this technique are discussed.Vitebsk Branch of the Institute of Solid-State and Semiconductor Physics, Belorussian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Nos. 3/4, pp. 32–37, March–April, 1995.