Fabrication of Parts from UHMWPE using Selective Inhibition Sintering (SIS) System and Evaluating Its Mechanical Characteristics

Abstract

Selective inhibition sintering is a novel powder-based 3D printing technique that can fabricates parts form powder materials by defining the part profile using inhibitor solution. The present study focuses on determining the tensile property of an SIS fabricated part, and examining the efficiency of various types of heating elements for improving the mechanical characteristic of fabricated parts. Test specimens have been fabricated from UHMWPE according to an ASTM D638 standard using the selected heating element. Uniaxial tensile tests have been conducted, and an engineering and true stress-strain curve was generated and various parameters such as tensile stress, yield stress, and Young's modulus have been obtained. The properties obtained from the test were compared with the mechanical properties of parts produced from the same material by other manufacturing methods. The results obtained from the test have been found to have agreed with the published data of other 3D printing techniques, and, therefore, SIS fabrication process can be employed to manufacture prototypes to replace other 3D processes.