Researchers Study Effects of Layer Thickness on ABS Material Properties in 3D Printing

Materials are being further scrutinized in 3D printing as authors S.T. Dwiyati, A. Kholil, R. Riyadi, and S.E. Putra study properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) with axial and lateral direction. Their findings are outlined in ‘Influence of layer thickness and 3D printing direction on tensile properties of ABS material,’ a paper recently published in the Journal of Physics: Conference Series.

While numerous, previous studies have focused on mechanical properties, printing orientation, tensile strength, and more, for this research the authors focused on samples with one-layer thickness only; however, there were variances in both printing and thickness. In these cases, three test specimens were produced.

3D files were converted for translation in the ‘UP Box 3D printer application, as the researchers printed each sample separately according to desired printing direction and layer thickness.

Both tensile and SEM testing were used to test strength by pulling samples to the point of fracture. This was accomplished with a Zwick Roell Series Z 020 tensile testing machine, with each set of sample tests performed three times. SEM tests were performed on the materials, as the researchers examined the fracture surfaces in detail.

Average data results are displayed below.

Tensile tests of the materials revealed greater molecule strength in one layer—rather than inter layers—due to the same amount of heating and cooling, and stronger bonding. Thicker layers allow for stronger bonds with increased polymer chains.

“The thickness of the 0.1 layer for axial direction shows higher force values and tensile strengths compared to layer thickness 0.2,” concluded the researchers at the end of their study. “These results indicate similarities with Divyathej’s that layer thickness affects the tensile strength. The printing orientation affects the tensile test results. In the axial direction shows a higher tensile strength value when compared with the lateral direction.

“Among the six specimens, specimen M1 0.3 has maximum force and the largest tensile strength. The SEM images were observed that the stacking of the axial direction was less dense, and many voids compared with the lateral direction layer. The more layers will form a tight structure, but the strength inter layers is lower than the strength between polymer molecules in one layer.”

Mechanical properties of a variety of materials continue to be examined, experimented on, and tested by researchers, engineers, and users around the world, as they study issues like porosity and the effects on both prototypes and functional parts, explore more about biocompatibility in materials for 3D printing, build orientations when printing with metal, and much more.

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[Source / Images: ‘Influence of layer thickness and 3D printing direction on tensile properties of ABS material’]