Selective laser sintering of zeolite filled polypropylene composites: Processing and properties of bulk adsorbents

Zeolite-polymer composite materials manufactured in extrusion processes are generally revealing a dense structure and therefore a very poor accessibility of the incorporated zeolite particles. To improve and increase the accessibility of such composite materials, the present study aims at manufacturing of zeolite filled polymers by selective laser sintering. Focusing on the production of self-supporting and space optimized adsorber units, this manufacturing process could represent a key technology. Important bulk properties of the raw materials and the mixture were determined to derive manufacturing parameters. Various composite materials obtained by altering the zeolite content have favorable macroporous appearances which satisfy the need of highly accessible zeolitic micropores. As the structural integrity of the zeolite particles after the processing by selective laser sintering is an important aspect for maintaining of the adsorption capacity, the composite materials are analyzed by x-ray diffraction. Further, the water adsorption behavior of the composites is surveyed by their characteristic adsorption isotherms.