A preliminary study about high-pressure homogenization as a viable alternative to produce powder feedstock for selective laser sintering of biopolymers

A preliminary study about high-pressure homogenization as a viable alternative to produce powder feedstock for selective laser sintering of biopolymers

Alberto GIUBILINI, Giovanna COLUCCI, Manuela GALATI, Giovanni MARCHIANDI, Massimo MESSORI, Luca IULIANO, Paolo MINETOLA

Abstract. Selective laser sintering is an established technique for producing complex plastic components, yet its broader adoption is limited by the scarcity of commercially viable materials. This study evaluates high-pressure homogenization, a fully mechanical process, for producing micronized biopolymer particles as a sustainable feedstock for selective laser sintering. The biopolymer powder was characterized in terms of morphology and flowability, followed by processability validation on a selective laser sintering machine using both simple and more complex geometries. The resulting 3D printed components were assessed for dimensional accuracy and subjected to dynamic mechanical characterization. By offering an industrially scalable method for biopolymer powder production, high-pressure homogenization expands material options for selective laser sintering, advancing sustainable additive manufacturing.

Keywords
Powder Bed Fusion, Polymers, Sustainable Development

Published online 9/10/2025, 10 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: Alberto GIUBILINI, Giovanna COLUCCI, Manuela GALATI, Giovanni MARCHIANDI, Massimo MESSORI, Luca IULIANO, Paolo MINETOLA, A preliminary study about high-pressure homogenization as a viable alternative to produce powder feedstock for selective laser sintering of biopolymers, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 57, pp 154-163, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903735-18

The article was published as article 18 of the book Italian Manufacturing Association Conference

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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