Study on Improving Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed ABS Exposed to Harsh Environmental Conditions by Metallic Thin Films
(Room Exhibit Hall A)
30 Apr 19
2:30 PM
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4:00 PM
Three-dimensional printing is a promising technique for producing complex geometries and high precision structures from different types of materials. The technique is particularly attractive for polymeric materials due to the cost effectiveness; however when compared to other manufacturing techniques the resulting structures have low mechanical properties and low performance as exposed to harsh environmental conditions. ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a common thermoplastic polymer used for many applications (e.g. electrical and electronic assemblies, medical devices, toys). For this research, the ABS specimens for tensile and flexural testing were 3D manufactured according to standards and their mechanical properties were tested using a LECO hardness tester, and Mark-10 tensile testing equipment. ABS samples were exposed to UV radiation, high temperature and moisture for different time intervals. Some ABS samples were coated with optically thick metallic materials using high vacuum magnetron sputtering deposition and were later exposed to UV radiation, high temperature and moisture using same conditions as for un-coated samples. The surface and cross section morphology of samples before and after exposure was observed using optical microscopy and the adhesion of metallic thin films to the ABS substrates was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The crystalline structure of the metallic coatings was analyzed using X-ray Diffraction technique. The mechanical properties were characterized using flexural and hardness tests over the exposure time. The metallic thin films improved the surface resistance of the substrate materials and enhanced the mechanical behavior of samples exposed to harsh environmental conditions.