FR selection for Additive Manufacturing

50-page chapter discusses flame retardants for SSL (selective laser sintering) 3D-printing polyetherimide and PPSF/PPSU as seen by Sarak Sigamneni and Fifan Lv, Auckland Technical University, Australia. Some FR polymers today available for SSL (selective laser sintering) and FDM (fused deposition modelling) printers are presented. Polymers used by these technologies are discussed: polyamides, polyaryl ether ketones (PAEK), amorphous polyetherimide (PEI), polyphenylsulphone (PPSF/PPSU). A challenge is that FRs can deteriorate the printability of polymers and the mechanical performance of the 3D-printed article. New FR chemistries, improved FR dispersion, and adaptations to Additive Manufacturing technologies may address this challenge.