Investigating the adhesive properties of polymers for 3D printing

Abstract

The article presents the research of adhesive properties of various polymers used in additive manufacturing by fused deposition modeling. Tensile tests of additively manufactured samples of various polymers are carried out, electro-microscopic photographs of the working area are taken before and after tests, and studies on the manufacturability of printing are performed to exclude further typical errors identified during these tests. Samples of the following polymers are studied: thermoplastic resin acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS +), thermoplastic resin acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with the addition of titanium nitrite as a dye (ABS + TiN), thermoplastic resin acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with the addition of polyester inserts (ABS polylactide (PLA), polylactide based compound (PLA HP), thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and nylon with carbon inserts (NSC). The work reveals the advantages and disadvantages of the investigated plastics. For example, deformations occur when the part is cooled down during printing process of ABS +, and a crack could form in stress concentrators as a result of the influence of cold air flows.