Additive manufacturing of shape memory polymers: effects of print orientation and infill percentage on mechanical properties

Abstract

Purpose Material extrusion additive manufacturing, also known as fused deposition modeling, is a manufacturing technique in which objects are built by depositing molten materials layer-by-layer through a nozzle. The use and application of this technique has risen dramatically over the past decade. This paper aims to first, report on the production and characterization of a shape memory polymer material filament that was manufactured to print shape memory polymer objects using material extrusion additive manufacturing. Additionally, it aims to investigate and outline the effects of major printing parameters, such as print orientation and infill percentage, on the elastic and mechanical properties of printed shape memory polymer samples. Design/methodology/approach Infill percentage was tested at three levels, 50, 75 and 100 per cent, while print orientation was tested at four different angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the specimens at 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°. The properties examined were elastic modulus, ultimate tensile strength and maximum strain. Findings Results showed that print angle and infill percentage do have a significant impact on the manufactured test samples. Originality/value Findings can significantly influence the tailored design and manufacturing of smart structures using shape memory polymer and material extrusion additive manufacturing.

Effect of Moisture on Shape Memory Polyurethane Polymers for Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing

“…To prepare the samples, filaments for the EBAM were melt-extruded using a 3-mm circular cross section die using a Brabender™ single screw extruder attached to an ATR Plasti-Corder drive system (Brabender, Duisburg, Germany). Extrusion parameters for SMPU MM4520 were adapted from Villacres et al [40], with heating zones of 170 °C, 180 °C, 190 °C and 195 °C, and extrusion rates and pulling speed of 20 rpm. For MM7520, temperatures were set as 175 °C, 185 °C, 195 °C and 205 °C, for the four different heating zones of the extruder.…”

Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed ABS as a Function of Raster Angle

“…In most of the previous works, which investigate a similar topic of the raster angle, specimens were printed only in one direction without corresponding interlayer orientated in the right angle to the previous one, hence layers were deposited perpendicularly [14,15]. Noticeably fewer research works were related to investigations of the varying angle between alternating layers [16], and, to the best of our knowledge, no work has been published, in which 55'° configuration was analyzed, which have been repeatedly proven to provide exceptional properties in the case of filament-wound pipes [17,18]. Moreover, obtained materials The main goal of the presented research work is to analyze the influence of fill angle on tensile properties of 3D printed samples, as well as noticeably less frequently analyzed, impact performance and dynamic mechanical behavior to optimize further manufacturing processes [12].…”

Shape Memory Polyurethane and its Composites for Various Applications

“…3D printing is a low cost rapid fabrication technique with layer-by-layer additive manufacturing for the production of complex and personalized structures and devices. 3D printing of shape memory polyurethanes may need optimization of several parameters such as bulk density, dimensional accuracy, print orientation, infill percentage, surface roughness, etc., in order to produce the desired objects [103,104]. Several researchers worldwide are trying to use additive manufacturing technique for smart device development using shape memory polyurethane and its composites.…”