Embedding Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Fibers in 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) Parts

This study aims to assess whether ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers can be successfully embedded in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix in a material extrusion 3D printing (ME3DP) process, despite the apparent thermal incompatibility between the two materials. The work started with...

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Published inPolymers Vol. 11; no. 11; p. 1825
Main Authors Amza, Cătălin Gheorghe, Zapciu, Aurelian, Eyþórsdóttir, Arnheiður, Björnsdóttir, Auðbjörg, Borg, Jonathan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 06.11.2019
MDPI
Subjects
3-D printers
additive manufacturing
Ambient temperature
Carbon fibers
dyneema
Embedding
Extrusion
Fiber orientation
fiber reinforced
Fibers
Impact strength
Incompatibility
Mechanical properties
Polyethylene
Polylactic acid
Polymer blends
Raw materials
Strands
Substrates
Tensile strength
Three dimensional printing
uhmwpe
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
fiber reinforced
Dyneema
additive manufacturing
UHMWPE
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Summary:This study aims to assess whether ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers can be successfully embedded in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix in a material extrusion 3D printing (ME3DP) process, despite the apparent thermal incompatibility between the two materials. The work started with assessing the maximum PLA extrusion temperatures at which UHMWPE fibers withstand the 3D printing process without melting or severe degradation. After testing various fiber orientations and extrusion temperatures, it has been found that the maximum extrusion temperature depends on fiber orientation relative to extrusion pathing and varies between 175 °C and 185 °C at an ambient temperature of 25 °C. Multiple specimens with embedded strands of UHMWPE fibers have been 3D printed and following tensile strength tests on the fabricated specimens, it has been found that adding even a small number of fiber strands laid in the same direction as the load increased tensile strength by 12% to 23% depending on the raster angle, even when taking into account the decrease in tensile strength due to reduced performance of the PLA substrate caused by lower extrusion temperatures.
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ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym11111825