Metallization of Thermoplastic Polymers and Composites 3D Printed by Fused Filament Fabrication
Open Access
- 15 July 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in Technologies
- Vol. 9 (3), 49
- https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies9030049
Abstract
Fused filament fabrication allows the direct manufacturing of customized and complex products although the layer-by-layer appearance of this process strongly affects the surface quality of the final parts. In recent years, an increasing number of post-processing treatments has been developed for the most used materials. Contrarily to other additive manufacturing technologies, metallization is not a common surface treatment for this process despite the increasing range of high-performing 3D printable materials. The objective of this work is to explore the use of physical vapor deposition sputtering for the chromium metallization of thermoplastic polymers and composites obtained by fused filament fabrication. The thermal and mechanical properties of five materials were firstly evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and tensile tests. Meanwhile, a specific finishing torture test sample was designed and 3D printed to perform the metallization process and evaluate the finishing on different geometrical features. Furthermore, the roughness of the samples was measured before and after the metallization, and a cost analysis was performed to assess the cost-efficiency. To sum up, the metallization of five samples made with different materials was successfully achieved. Although some 3D printing defects worsened after the post-processing treatment, good homogeneity on the finest details was reached. These promising results may encourage further experimentations as well as the development of new applications, i.e., for the automotive and furniture fields.Keywords
Funding Information
- Horizon 2020 (H2020 730323 1)
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Review of Thermal Spray Metallization of Polymer-Based StructuresJournal of Thermal Spray Technology, 2016
- Surface modification of an epoxy resin with polyamines and polydopamine: Adhesion toward electroless deposited copperApplied Surface Science, 2015
- The impact of process parameters on mechanical properties of parts fabricated in PLA with an open-source 3-D printerRapid Prototyping Journal, 2015
- Electroless Plating of PLA and PETG for 3D Printed Flexible SubstratesECS Transactions, 2015
- Solid particle erosion of thick PVD coatings on CFRPWear, 2014
- Cold spray coating: review of material systems and future perspectivesSurface Engineering, 2014
- Droplet erosion performance of composite materials electroplated with a hard metal layerWear, 2011
- The Selection of Materials to Match Human Sensory Adaptation and Aesthetic Expectation in Industrial DesignMETU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, 2010
- Performance of hard coatings, made by balanced and unbalanced magnetron sputtering, for decorative applicationsSurface and Coatings Technology, 1999
- Chemical reactions at polymer surfaces interacting with a gas plasma or with metal atoms — their relevance to adhesionSurface and Coatings Technology, 1999