Manufacturing of multi material wall via fused filament fabrication: An insight characteristics

Abstract

Polylactic acid has found its way into innovative engineering application in aerospace, defense and drone technologies through its unique characteristics such as high strength, low density and easy availability. Carbon fiber reinforced polylactic acid are polymeric composites with polylactic acid as base matrix that has distinctive properties such as extreme durability and high strength to weight. Fused filament fabrication is a type of additive manufacturing technique that comes under material extrusion. Multi material is an engineering concept that enables fabrication of structure that has varying functional properties along a certain direction. This engineering material combines the seemingly incompatible properties of two different material. The aim of this study is to provide insight on the mechanical behavior of multi material wall manufactured through fused filament fabrication. The coupons were prepared and tested in accordance with American society for testing and materials standards. The mechanical tests revealed that multi material possess better mechanical properties than polylactic acid and was on par with carbon fiber reinforced polylactic acid. The images from optical microscope was used to analyse bonding, buckling and fracture morphologies. These results would provide idea such that this multi material could either replace existing material or have its own new application.