Experimental characterization of mechanical properties and microstructure study of polycarbonate (PC) reinforced acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) composite with varying PC loadings

Abstract

Fusion deposition modeling (FDM) is the most prevalent technique of additive manufacturing. This is for its practice in many applications. Polycarbonate (PC) reinforced acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) composite in 3D printing upsurges properties and crops better strength for components by 3D printing. A study on 3D printed (FDM) PC/ABS composite material was investigated in this paper. The influence of variations in material composition on mechanical properties such as hardness, flexural strength, and impact strength was studied. The proposed work aims at analyzing PC/ABS composite material by the FDM process in terms of mechanical performance, microstructural study, and their processibility. Specimens with three different compositions (10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%) polycarbonate (PC) reinforced in ABS were prepared. The best composition of polymer composite by FDM was proposed from their mechanical properties, and a microstructural study was done to trace the deviations in the impact strength of PC/ABS composite. The study evidences the compatibility of PC/ABS polymer composite. The hardness and strength of the composite are improved with a rise in polycarbonate (PC) content in the material. This exhibit excellent strength to the component at various compositions of polycarbonate reinforcement. Polymer composition contributes to producing intricate 3D printed components with various benefits and applicable for vast applications in many fields.