Abstract
Paper explores the influence of the infill density (%), as a process parameter in additive manufacturing (3D printing), upon the mechanical (tensile, impact) and thermo-physical properties of PLA samples. The results indicated degradation of both tensile strengths and moduli with decrease of samples� relative density from 100% to 25% with 49.9% and 42.0%, respectively. Similar behaviour holds on impact strength values that degrades with 56.0% for the samples printed using a 25% infill density. The Young�s modulus variation with relative density values was approximated using a 3rd order polynomial function, in accordance with the expression for closed-cell thick edge rhombus cellular structures. All PLA samples revealed small difference on their coefficients of linear thermal expansion, irrespective of their infill densities, with a decrease of 6.34% in the lowest relative density value specimens, indicating enhanced stability within selected temperature range. Glass transition temperatures were approximately located at 65�C whereas cold-crystallization around 80�C, thus unaffected by selected process parameter.
Highlights
Nowadays’ highly competitive automotive market demands solutions to address both fuel efficiency and emissions performance since OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are bounded by strictly environmental regulations, technological advances and customers’ fads
The present study aims to provide the results of a systematically conducted research on fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) samples accounting different infill density values and asses the effects on the tensile, impact and thermal expansion properties
Tensile and impact behaviour As mentioned previously, the specimens for tensile tests were stretched in batches of ten printed units for individual infill density selection, and the results averaged for the aimed property
Summary
Nowadays’ highly competitive automotive market demands solutions to address both fuel efficiency and emissions performance since OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are bounded by strictly environmental regulations, technological advances and customers’ fads. Lightweight automotive design, especially for body-in-white (BIW) and powertrains, proved to be one of the most important solution adopted to address the previous issues. The electric vehicles do not need solutions for fuel efficiency and emission reduction. These are being constructed from a lightweighting perspective to compensate for their battery weights (Mayyas et al, 2017)[5]. Education benefits most from advances in the area if accounting on the advantages, such as cost-effectiveness, flexibility in design, material savings and personal customization
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