Previous　investigations　on　selective　laser　sintering　were　focused　on　opaque　powders　from　the　primary　outer　surface　absorption　of　the　powder　bed.　In　the　paper,　the　sintering　behavior　of　＂transparent＂　materials　with　a　higher　transmittance　over　90%　is　demonstrated.　Phenol-formaldehyde　resin-　(PF-)　coated　silica　sand　composite　powders　were　sintered　by　a　fiber　laser　considering　their　high　transmittance　at　1064　nm　wavelength.　The　affluences　of　process　parameters　on　the　dimension,　shrinkage　depth　and　porosity　of　the　sintered　sample　were　studied,　and　microstructures　by　optical　microscopy　(OM)　and　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　were　observed.　Furthermore,　the　absorption　and　transmission　of　laser　beam　within　the　powder　bed　were　investigated　based　on　a　developed　analytical　model　and　the　Zemax　optical　design　program.　Experimental　results　showed　that　composite　powders　could　be　successfully　sintered　by　the　fiber　laser.　That　was　because　poor　absorption　of　laser　energy　could　still　raise　the　temperature　of　the　PF　shell　over　its　glass　transition　point.　However,　the　heat　absorbed　within　the　powder　bed　was　not　uniform　by　the　action　of　the　convergence　of　the　micro　spherical　lens　from　the　＂transparent＂　composite　powder.　Finally,　some　components　were　manufactured　and　the　feasibility　of　using　this　process　to　build　casting　molds　was　verified.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.