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Tensile properties of the FFF-processed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer

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Abstract

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) has become one of the most popular, practical, and low-cost additive manufacturing techniques for fabricating geometrically complex thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer. However, there are still some uncertainties concerning the relationship between several operating parameters applied in this technique and the mechanical properties of the processed material. In this research, the influences of extruder temperature and raster orientation on the mechanical properties of the FFF-processed TPU elastomer were studied. A series of uniaxial tensile tests was carried out to determine tensile strength, strain, and elastic modulus of TPU elastomer that had been printed with various extruder temperatures, i.e., 190–230 °C, and raster angles, i.e., 0–90°. Thermal and chemical characterizations were also conducted to support the analysis in this research. The results showed the ductile and elastic characteristics of the FFF-processed TPU, with specific tensile strength and strain that could reach up to 39 MPa and 600%, respectively. The failure mechanisms operating on the FFF-processed TPU and the result of stress analysis by using the developed Mohr’s circle are also discussed in this paper. In conclusion, the extrusion temperature of 200 °C and raster angle of 0° could be preferred to be applied in the FFF process to achieve high strength and ductile TPU elastomer.

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Funding

This work was performed as part of the first author’s project funded by the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, with a research grant No. 417/UN1.FTK/SK/HK/2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Grafika 2, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Budi Arifvianto, Teguh Nur Iman, Rini Dharmastiti, Urip Agus Salim, Muslim Mahardika &  Suyitno

  2. Centre for Innovation of Medical Equipment and Devices (CIMEDs), Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Teknika Utara, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Budi Arifvianto, Benidiktus Tulung Prayoga, Rini Dharmastiti, Urip Agus Salim, Muslim Mahardika &  Suyitno

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vocational School, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Yacaranda Sekip Unit IV, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Benidiktus Tulung Prayoga

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  1. Budi Arifvianto
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  2. Teguh Nur Iman
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Contributions

• Dr. Budi Arifvianto is the project leader and responsible for the writing of this manuscript.

• Mr. Teguh Nur Iman is responsible for the data acquisition.

• Dr. Benidiktus Tulung Prayoga, Dr. Rini Dharmastiti, Dr. Urip Agus Salim, and Dr. Muslim Mahardika provide technical guidelines for the experiment and give insights related to the applications of the polymeric material used in this research.

• Dr. Suyitno is the supervisor of this project.

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Correspondence to Budi Arifvianto.

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Arifvianto, B., Iman, T.N., Prayoga, B.T. et al. Tensile properties of the FFF-processed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 117, 1709–1719 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-07712-0

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