On the use of high viscosity polymers in the fused filament fabrication process
Abstract
Purpose
This work aims to provide additional insights regarding the practicability of using conventional materials in the fused filament fabrication (FFF) process.
Design/methodology/approach
Two different acrylonitryle butadiene styrene (ABS) grades are studied and compared, aiming to check to what extent the regular ABS developed for conventional polymer processing, with a different rheology than the one provided for the FFF process, can also be used in this process (FFF).
Findings
The rheological results show that a general-purpose ABS (ABS-GP) melt is much more viscous and elastic than ABS-FFF. It is clear that using ABS-GP as feedstock material in the FFF process results in poor coalescence and adhesion between the extruded filaments, which has a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties of the printed specimens. Despite its lower performance, ABS-GP can be a good choice if the objective is to produce an aesthetical prototype. If the objective is to produce a functional prototype or a final part, its mechanical performance requirements will dictate the choice.
Originality/value
This work provides insightful information regarding the use of high viscosity materials on the 3D printing process.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work is funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Program and National Funds through FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/50025/2013. L.L. Ferrás would like to thank the financial funding by FCT through the scholarship SFRH/BPD/100353/2014.
Citation
Khaliq, M.H., Gomes, R., Fernandes, C., Nóbrega, J., Carneiro, O.S. and Ferrás, L.L. (2017), "On the use of high viscosity polymers in the fused filament fabrication process", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 727-735. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-02-2016-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited