Laser Sintering (LS) is a 3D-printing (Additive Manufacturing) technology which allows manufacturing of complex functional parts in polymer materials. It is internationally recognized that LS has a very high potential for production of (customized) high-end functional parts.

There are three main concerns regarding the materials available for Laser Sintering, which at this moment block the full potential of the technology. First one is the limited material palette for LS available. Second concern is the high cost of the materials, which is due to both technical as well as economic reasons. And thirdly, when a good material is found, it is often not available in an appropriate powder form for sintering. The purpose of this ICON is to add new materials for Laser Sintering. This will allow for the first time to start-up material production for Additive Manufacturing in Flanders and to increase the capabilities of the manufacturing industry.

The SIM program STREAM – Structural Engineering Materials for Additive Manufacturing – is the ‘umbrella program’ for this ICON. The overall goal of the STREAM program is to broaden the material palette for Additive Manufacturing.