Method and apparatus for manufacturing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene structures incorporating graphene

A method of manufacturing an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) structure incorporating graphene, said method comprising the steps of:

• i. providing a build chamber having a vertically moveable platform defining a build plate upon which a powder material may be sintered layer by layer in a selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing process;
• ii. pre-heating the build chamber;
• iii. reducing the pressure within the build chamber and/or supplying an inert gas into the build chamber;
• iv. depositing a layer of UHMWPE powder onto the build plate to define a print bed;
• v. exposing selected regions of the layer of UHMWPE powder to at least one first laser source to create sintered regions of the layer of UHMWPE powder;
• vi. exposing selected regions of the sintered regions of UHMWPE powder to at least one second laser source resulting in the formation of graphene derived from the UHMWPE powder;
• vii. lowering the platform one step corresponding to the thickness of the layer of UHMWPE powder and depositing a further layer of UHMWPE powder thereon;
• viii. repeating steps (v) to (vii) until the structure is completed.