Abstract
Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a three-dimensional (3D) printing technology that is usually performed with polymers that are molten in a printer nozzle and placed line by line on the printing bed or the previous layer, respectively. Nowadays, hybrid materials combining polymers with functional materials are also commercially available. Especially combinations of polymers with metal particles result in printed objects with interesting optical and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of objects printed with two of these metal-polymer blends were compared to common poly (lactide acid) (PLA) printed objects. Tensile tests and bending tests show that hybrid materials mostly containing bronze have significantly reduced mechanical properties. Tensile strengths of the 3D-printed objects were unexpectedly nearly identical with those of the original filaments, indicating sufficient quality of the printing process. Our investigations show that while FDM printing allows for producing objects with mechanical properties similar to the original materials, metal-polymer blends cannot be used for the rapid manufacturing of objects necessitating mechanical strength.
Highlights
Three-dimensional (3D) printing belongs to the emerging topics of our time
On the one hand enabling localization and individualization of production [1], it offers on the other hand new opportunities to produce objects that would have been difficult or even impossible with former technologies [2]
If the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology is of high technological interest since most inexpensive printers are based on this principle
Summary
On the one hand enabling localization and individualization of production [1], it offers on the other hand new opportunities to produce objects that would have been difficult or even impossible with former technologies [2]. Different technologies enable 3D printing, such as stereo-lithography, selective laser sintering, or fused deposition modeling (FDM) [3]. If the FDM technology is of high technological interest since most inexpensive printers are based on this principle. A polymer filament is guided through a heated nozzle where the material is molten and deposited at defined positions on a printing bed. After finishing the first layer, the distance between printing bed and extruder nozzle is increased, and the second layer is printed on the first one, etc. After finishing the first layer, the distance between printing bed and extruder nozzle is increased, and the second layer is printed on the first one, etc. [4]
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