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Comparative characterization of the viscoelastic properties of additive manufacturing polymers

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Abstract

The recent availability of a wide range of additively manufactured materials has facilitated the translation from prototype-limited to application-ready 3D printed components. As such, additively manufactured materials deployed in dynamic environments require extensive characterization to elucidate and optimize performance. This research evaluates the dynamic response of fused filament fabrication and vat photopolymerization printed polymers as a function of temperature. Dynamic mechanical analysis is used to extract the viscoelastic properties of several generations of samples exhibiting a range of thermomechanical behavior, highlighting the stiffness and dam** characteristics. A modified stiffness–temperature model supports the experimental characterization and provides additional insight concerning the molecular motion occurring over each thermal transition. The insights from the analysis were collated into a case study that leverages their dynamic characteristics in a multimaterial application. The outcomes from this research assimilate a framework that defines the temperature operating range and broadens the design envelope for these additive manufacturing materials.

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Data will be made available upon request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2035663. The authors are also grateful for internal funding from San Diego State University. Funding from the Department of Defense (W911NF1410039, W911NF1810477, and W911NF2210199) is also acknowledged. Support from San Diego State University is also acknowledged.

Funding

The research leading to these results is funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2035663 and from the Department of Defense (W911NF1410039, W911NF1810477, and W911NF2210199). The authors are also grateful for internal funding and support from San Diego State University. The authors have no competing interests to declare.

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  1. Experimental Mechanics Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182-1323, USA

    Anil Singh, Mia Chen & George Youssef

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  1. Anil Singh
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  2. Mia Chen
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  3. George Youssef
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All authors were responsible for writing (review and editing), data curation, formal analysis, investigation, visualization, figure preparation, and methodology. G.Y. is responsible for writing the original draft, conceptualization, project administration, resources, and funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to George Youssef.

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Singh, A., Chen, M. & Youssef, G. Comparative characterization of the viscoelastic properties of additive manufacturing polymers. Mech Time-Depend Mater (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11043-024-09710-7

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