Effects of Wood Flour Reinforcement on the Warpage and Compressive Strength of 3D Printed HDPEs

Abstract

The study involves the use of high density polyethylene (HDPE) as a filament for 3D printing. Considering the warpage and adhesion problem of HDPE on the build plate during 3D printing, this was addressed through the incorporation of wood flour compatibilized with styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene grafted maleic anhydride (SEBS-gMAH). The composite wood-HDPE (cHDPE) was studied to observe warpage changes. Using different SEBS, heat bed parameters and identification of the suitable print heat beds for HDPE was conducted. Results from the mechanical testing show that the compressive strength and elastic force of virgin HDPE (vHDPE) increases with infill percentage, while the same properties for cHDPE increases up to 50% infill density/percentage then decreases as it approaches 100% infill percentage. Digital microscopy imaging shows that poor layer adhesion initiated the poor compressive performance of cHDPE. Warp studies reveal that wood flour significantly decreases warping of HDPE by 42.88% at 50% infill density. While different SEBS brands show similar effectiveness as heat beds in reducing warping of HDPE during printing.