The influence of layer height in the orthotropic elastic properties of PLA material obtained by additive processes

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester used extensively in 3D printing, that can be obtained from renewable resources with low production costs and low carbon emissions. The extrusion temperature of PLA is lower, and its tensile strength and elastic modulus are higher than that of other common polymeric thermoplastic materials.To assess the structural integrity of parts obtained by additive manufacturing, especially in more complex geometries, the finite element method is extensively used, being necessary, for this purpose, to characterize the constitutive model of the material. From the printer manufacturing parameters, one of the most affecting the elastic and strength properties is the layer height.The layer-by-layer slicing sequence of additive manufacturing processes can introduce anisotropy into the materials, whereby, in most applications, materials obtained by these processes are considered orthotropic. The mechanical characterization of anisotropic materials through classical tests is not always the most suitable for this purpose, given the economic aspects, the time required, precision requirements and, sometimes, the technological difficulties of the tests. The ASTM E1876-21 standard presents a method for determining the dynamic elastic properties of materials by impulse excitation of vibration, at room temperature.In this article, the influence of the layer height in the dynamic Young's Modulus, Shear Modulus, and Poisson's Ratio obtained by impulse excitation of vibration (ASTM E1876-21 standard), of Tough PLA is analyzed.