Investigate the use of electrostatics in fabricating 3d objects using additive manufacturing technology

• Main Author: Ling, Pui Foong
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/61306
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This is a continuation on the 3D Xerography (3DX) printing system research regarding the adhesion force between medium density polyethylene (MDPE) particle to Teflon substrate. Two MDPE particle state will be tested here. They will be in the form of molten and dry state. Special attention has been placed on the molten state adhesion experiment as it is among the first of its kind. Prior to experiment, the MDPE particles at different states will be analyzed to compare its physical differences. The experiment will be done using the centrifuge method with two setup rigs. The particles on the substrate will be spun up till 17000rpm of rotational speed and then properly analyzed to find out the adhesion force. Both the particle adhesion force increases when their particle size gets larger. For the molten MDPE, the smaller the particle is, the higher the tendency it detaches from the substrate. However, this phenomenal is the complete opposite on the dry MDPE. The molten state MDPE adhesion force was a thousand times higher than the dry particle state. Capillary force along with the increase of contact area plays a part in the rise in adhesion force. It was observed that the percentage of particles adhering to the substrate with respect to the adhesion force follows a log-normal distribution.