Fabrication of Carbon-decorated Al₂O₃ Composite Powders using Cellulose Nanofiber for Selective Laser Sintering

Abstract

In this study, systematic investigation using cellulose nanofiber (CellNF) as a carbon source for selective laser sintering (SLS) of Al₂O₃ was conducted. A composite powder that consisted of CellNF and Al₂O₃ was fabricated using electrostatic adsorption (EA) method in aqueous suspension. Heat-treatment temperature of 500 and 800°C was compared for the conversion of CellNF to carbon residue (CR) in the Al₂O₃ composite. After that, the parameters involving the volume fraction of CR and effect of Al₂O₃ particle size in the CR-Al₂O₃ composite particle were also investigated in order to obtain an optimized condition of the CR-Al₂O₃ composite particle for SLS. From the results obtained, 1.5 wt% CR-Al₂O₃ with alumina size of 0.8 μm that was heat-treated at 800°C exhibited optimum laser sinter ability owing to the good CR distribution over a higher surface area that promoted good laser adsorption for the alumina sintering.