Investigation of the mechanical performance of heat-treated ABS and recycled ABS materials
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65204/djes.v3i2.619Keywords:
Polymers, ABS, 3D printing, Recycling, Mechanical propertiesAbstract
Three-dimensional printing plays a key role in rapid medical manufacturing, yet the resulting plastic waste poses environmental challenges. Combining additive manufacturing with mechanical recycling offers a sustainable circular economy solution. In this study, specimens were produced from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (Re-ABS) materials obtained through the mechanical recycling of waste prints resulting from production errors, using the Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) method, one of the 3D printing technologies. The specimens were manufactured with different infill rates (25%, 50% and 75%) in two different infill pattern orientations (Vertical and Horizontal Truss). After production, heat treatment was applied to the specimens at temperatures of 90, 110, and 130 °C, and the effects of heat treatment on mechanical and surface properties were experimentally investigated. All specimens underwent tensile strength and three-point bending tests, as well as surface roughness measurements, hardness tests, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses.
The results obtained indicate that the most influential parameter on mechanical properties is the infill rate. As the fill ratio increases, strength and hardness increase while surface roughness decreases. Heat treatment has improved mechanical performance, particularly in Re-ABS samples, while the infill pattern orientations have had a secondary effect.
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