Effect of surface modification by acetone vaporization on the structure of 3D printed acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene elements

Abstract

The internal structure of samples produced by additive manufacturing (AM) technology of copolymer acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) was studied by microcomputer tomography (micro- CT). The results of micro-CT were correlated with the mechanical properties of samples. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate the acetone vaporization influence on the structure and mechanical properties of ABS samples printed with additive manufacturing technology. Samples were printed on three different devices and scanned with micro-CT after acetone vapors treatment. Mass and hardness of the samples were measured. Finally, the static tensile test was performed. Irregularly spaced voids, which directly affected samples properties, have been detected. Under the influence of acetone vaporization, the properties of the samples have changed such as: number of voids, mass, hardness, tensile strength.