Mechanical Properties of Recycled Polymer Materials in Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

The publication focuses on tensile strength testing of samples produced by additive Fused Filament Fabrication technology. Four materials PLA, rPLA, PETG and rPETG were tested. The polymeric materials are PLA (polylactic acid), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glucol) and recyclates of these materials. The materials were made into samples for tensile testing according to ASTM D638. Tensile diagrams were created from the measured data. Statistical processing and comparison of the measured data is performed in the publication. Two groups of materials were compared. Recycled polymeric materials and virgin polymeric materials. In the discussion, a comparison of the mechanical properties of recycled materials for 3D printing versus virgin materials for 3D printing by Fused Filament Fabrication technology is made.