Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2025-12
Effect of 3D printing by fused deposition modelling on the microstructural and macrostructural properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,polylactic acid and polyamide 12
The objective of this research was to find a relationship between the microstructural and macrostructural properties of polylactic acid, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyamide 12 (PA12) when processed using fused deposition modelling. The crystallinity, enthalpy of crystallization (ΔHc), glass transition temperature (Tg) and Young's modulus (E) were evaluated. The results showed that crystallinity increased for all materials after the 3D printing process, leading to an increase in ΔHc and a decrease in Tg, particularly in PA12. This variation in microstructural properties resulted in a significant decrease in Young's modulus, indicating a reduction in the stiffness of the printed materials. The research suggests that an increase in crystalline material volume, resulting from polymer chain rearrangement during 3D printing, reduces the energy required for thermal softening and decreases the material's rigidity.
TontowiAERamdaniLErdizonRV, et al.Optimization of 3D-printer process parameters for improving quality of polylactic acid printed part. Int J Eng Technol2017; 9: 589–600.
2.
MuenksDKyosevY. Productivity comparison between vat polymerization and fused filament fabrication methods for additive manufacturing of polymers. 3D Print Addit Manuf2023; 10: 40–49.
3.
Rodríguez-PanesAClaverJCamachoAM. The influence of manufacturing parameters on the mechanical behaviour of PLA and ABS pieces manufactured by FDM: a comparative analysis. Materials (Basel)2018; 11: 1333.
4.
AhmedMHJamshidAAmjadU, et al.3D printable thermoplastic polyurethane energy efficient passive foot. 3D Print Addit Manuf2022; 9: 557–565.
5.
HaleemAJavaidM. 3D Printed medical parts with different materials using additive manufacturing. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health2020; 8: 215–223.
6.
NurazziNMAsyrafMRMFatimah AthiyahS, et al.A review on mechanical performance of hybrid natural fiber polymer composites for structural applications. Polymers (Basel)2021; 13: 2170.
7.
OdianG. Principles of polymerization. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2004, DOI: 10.1002/047147875X.
8.
MeijerHEHGovaertLE. Mechanical performance of polymer systems: the relation between structure and properties. Prog Polym Sci2005; 30: 915–938.
9.
BallauffM. Stiff-chain polymers—structure, phase behavior, and properties. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl1989; 28: 253–267.
10.
CzyżewskiPMarciniakDNowinkaB, et al.Influence of Extruder’s nozzle diameter on the improvement of functional properties of 3D-printed PLA products. Polymers (Basel)2022; 14: 356.
11.
ElhattabKBhaduriSBSikderP. Influence of fused deposition modelling nozzle temperature on the rheology and mechanical properties of 3D printed β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP)/polylactic acid (PLA) composite. Polymers (Basel)2022; 14: 1222.
12.
BrunšekRKopitarDSchwarzI, et al.Biodegradation properties of cellulose fibers and PLA biopolymer. Polymers (Basel)2023; 15: 3532.
13.
MalekiHAzimiBIsmaeilimoghadamS, et al.Poly(lactic acid)-based electrospun fibrous structures for biomedical applications. Appl Sci (Switzerland)2022; 12: 3192.
14.
RahimTNATAkilHM. Optimization of the 3D printing parameters on dimensional accuracy and surface finishing for new polyamide 6 and its composite used in fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. J Mech Eng2017; SI 4: 75–90. ISSN 1823-5514, eISSN 2550-164X.
15.
FrinéVCHectorAPManuelNDS, et al.Biodegradable PLA food packaging hold Alternaria alternata. Polymers (Basel)2019; 11: 1720.
16.
HikmatMRostamSAhmedYM. Investigation of tensile property-based Taguchi method of PLA parts fabricated by FDM 3D printing technology. Results Eng2021; 11: 100264.
17.
AhmadMNYahyaA. Effects of 3D printing parameters on mechanical properties of ABS samples. Designs2023; 7: 136.
18.
PuchalskiMSiwekPPanayotovN, et al.Influence of various climatic conditions on the structural changes of semicrystalline PLA spun-bonded mulching nonwovens during outdoor composting. Polymers (Basel)2019; 11: 559.
19.
MendenhallREslamiB. Experimental investigation on effect of temperature on FDM 3D printing polymers: ABS, PETG, and PLA. Appl Sci2023; 13: 11503.
20.
LiaoYLiuCCoppolaB, et al.Effect of porosity and crystallinity on 3D printed PLA properties. Polymers (Basel)2019; 11: 1487.
21.
PortoacăAIDinițăATănaseM, et al.Analyzing sustainable 3D printing processes: mechanical, thermal, and crystallographic insights. Polymers (Basel)2024; 16: 1364.
22.
BeníčekLVašinaMHrbáčekP. Influence of 3D printing conditions on physical–mechanical properties of polymer materials. Polymers (Basel)2024; 17: 43.
23.
LiuYWangXHeL, et al.Enhanced heat resistance of ABS/poly (N-(4-fluorophenyl) maleimide-alt-triallyl isocyanurate) composites based on solid-state interfacial reaction. J Mater Res Technol2023; 27: 342–351.
24.
SabatiniFPizzimentiSBargagliI, et al.A thermal analytical study of LEGO® bricks for investigating light-stability of ABS. Polymers (Basel)2023; 15: 3267.
25.
ReinaldoJSPereiraLMdos Santos SilvaE, et al.Effect of the chemical structure on the linear viscoelastic behavior of acrylic and styrenic polymer blends. Polym Test2018; 67: 257–265.
26.
RohdeSCantrellJJerezA, et al.Experimental characterization of the shear properties of 3D–printed ABS and polycarbonate parts. Exp Mech2018; 58: 871–884.
27.
FarinaISinghNColangeloF, et al.High-performance nylon-6 sustainable filaments for additive manufacturing. Materials (Basel)2019; 12: 3955.
28.
KamMİpekçiAŞengülÖ. Investigation of the effect of FDM process parameters on mechanical properties of 3D printed PA12 samples using Taguchi method. J Thermoplast Compos Mater2023; 36: 307–325.
29.
WinnackerM. Polyamides and their functionalization: recent concepts for their applications as biomaterials. Biomater Sci2017; 5: 1230–1235.
30.
ShakibaMRezvani GhomiEKhosraviF, et al.Nylon—a material introduction and overview for biomedical applications. Polym Adv Technol2021; 32: 3368–3383.
31.
SattlerRZhangRGuptaG, et al.Influence of crystallization kinetics and flow behavior on structural inhomogeneities in 3D-printed parts made from semi-crystalline polymers. Macromolecules2024; 57: 3066–3080.
32.
RahimTNATAbdullahAMAkilHM, et al.The improvement of mechanical and thermal properties of polyamide 12 3D printed parts by fused deposition modelling. Express Polym Lett2017; 11: 963–982.
33.
FerreiraTFerreiraGMorgadoDM, et al.A simple mixing method for polyamide 12 / attapulgite nanocomposites: structural and mechanical characterization. SN Appl Sci2020; 2: 1–11.
34.
VozniakIBeloshenkoVVozniakA, et al.Interfaces generation via severe plastic deformation – a new way to multiple shape memory polymer composites. Polymer (Guildf)2023; 267: 125653.
35.
MojiRGMotloungSVMotaungTE, et al.Characterization of the incorporated SiO2 co-doped with Sr2+ and Tb3+ phosphors into PLA polymer matrix. J Mol Struct2022; 1263: 133176.
36.
DaiRHuangMMaL, et al.Study on crystal structure and phase transitions of polyamide 12 via wide-angle X-ray diffraction with variable temperature. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater2020; 3: 522–529.
37.
ChatterjeeSNüeschFAChuBTT. Crystalline and tensile properties of carbon nanotube and graphene reinforced polyamide 12 fibers. Chem Phys Lett2013; 557: 92–96.
38.
PerretEHufenusR. Insights into strain-induced solid mesophases in melt-spun polymer fibers. Polymer (Guildf)2021; 229: 124010.
39.
MostafaKGMontemagnoCQureshiAJ. Strength to cost ratio analysis of FDM Nylon 12 3D printed parts. Procedia Manuf2018; 26: 753–762.
40.
KoziorTKunderaC. Evaluation of the influence of parameters of FDM technology on the selected mechanical properties of models. Procedia Eng2017; 192: 463–468.
41.
MoradiMAminzadehARahmatabadiD, et al.Experimental investigation on mechanical characterization of 3D printed PLA produced by fused deposition modeling (FDM). Mater Res Express2021; 8: 035304.
42.
PszczółkowskiBNowakKWRejmerW, et al.A comparative analysis of selected methods for determining Young’s modulus in polylactic acid samples manufactured with the FDM method. Materials (Basel)2021; 15: 149.
43.
DongQZhengQZhangM. Studies on the morphology and the thermal properties of high-density polyethylene filled with graphite. J Mater Sci2006; 41: 3175–3178.
