Influence of Internal Innovative Architecture on the Mechanical Properties of 3D Polymer Printed Parts

Abstract

The utilization of polymer-based materials is quickly expanding. The enterprises of today are progressively seeking techniques to supplant metal parts with polymer-based materials as a result of their light weight, simple support and modest costs. The ceaselessly developing requirement for composite materials with new or enhanced properties brings about the preparation of different polymer mixes with various arrangements, morphologies and properties. Fused filament fabrication processes such as 3D-printing are nowadays shaping the actual pathway to a full pallet of materials, from art–craft to biomaterials. In this study, the structural and mechanical behavior of three types of commercially available filaments comprised of synthetic poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene) (ABS), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic acid)/polyhydroxyalkanoate reinforced with bamboo wood flour composite (PLA/PHA BambooFill) were assessed through mechanical testing and optical microscopy, aiming to understand how the modifications that occur in the printed models with internal architecture are influencing the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed material. It has been determined that the material printed from PLA presents the highest compression strength, three-point bending and shock resistance, while the ABS shows the best tensile strength performance. A probability plot was used to verify the normality hypothesis of data for the tensile strength, in conjunction with the Anderson–Darling statistic test. The results of the statistic indicated that the data were normally distributed and that there is a marked influence of the internal architecture of the 3D-printed models on the mechanical properties of the printed material.