Abstract
In order to enhance the mechanical performance of three-dimensional (3D) printed structures fabricated via commercially available fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers, novel nanocomposite filaments were produced herein following a melt mixing process, and further 3D printed and characterized. Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Antimony (Sb) doped Tin Oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles (NPs), hereafter denoted as ATO, were selected as fillers for a polymeric acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic matrix at various weight % (wt%) concentrations. Tensile and flexural test specimens were 3D printed, according to international standards. It was proven that TiO2 filler enhanced the overall tensile strength by 7%, the flexure strength by 12%, and the micro-hardness by 6%, while for the ATO filler, the corresponding values were 9%, 13%, and 6% respectively, compared to unfilled ABS. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the size of TiO2 (40 ± 10 nm) and ATO (52 ± 11 nm) NPs. Raman spectroscopy was performed for the TiO2 and ATO NPs as well as for the 3D printed nanocomposites to verify the polymer structure and the incorporated TiO2 and ATO nanocrystallites in the polymer matrix. The scope of this work was to fabricate novel nanocomposite filaments using commercially available materials with enhanced overall mechanical properties that industry can benefit from.
Highlights
In the fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing process, a material in strand form is deposited in layers one after the other to produce 3D structures [1,2]
Another research by Torrado et al [24] reported similar values but with no reduction or improvement in the tensile strength regarding the 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/TiO2 5 wt% nanocomposites when compared to virgin ABS [43]
TiO2 nanocomposites studied by Skorski et al showed a decrease in both ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and flexural strength as compared to the 0% sample
Summary
In the fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing process, a material in strand form is deposited in layers one after the other to produce 3D structures [1,2]. An interesting finding that should be mentioned regarding the 3D printing manufacturing technology is that the mechanical properties of 3D printed ABS parts can differ, depending on the process. The ABS polymer mechanical properties in 3D printing have been thoroughly reported in literature [10,14,15,16,17,18]. All dimensions of materials (nano, micro, macro) with a structural character contribute to the overall mechanical performance and durability of the resulting 3D printed part consisting of a nanocomposite filament [4]
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