TY - JOUR

T1 - Shrinkage and Warpage Optimization of Expanded-Perlite-Filled Polypropylene Composites in Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing

AU - Spörk, Martin

AU - Sapkota, Janak

AU - Weingrill, Georg

AU - Fischinger, Thomas

AU - Arbeiter, Florian

AU - Holzer, Clemens

PY - 2017/7/4

Y1 - 2017/7/4

N2 - A major challenge in extrusion-based additive manufacturing is the lack of commercially available materials compared to those in well-established processes like injection molding or extrusion. This study aims at expanding the material database by evaluating the feasibility of polypropylene, which is one of the most common and technologically relevant semicrystalline polymers. Expanded-perlite-filled polypropylene and ternary blends with amorphous polyolefins are evaluated to establish an understanding of their processability and their printability. A detailed study on the shrinkage behavior, as well as on the thermal, mechanical, morphological, and warpage properties is performed. It is found that smaller sized fillers result in a tremendous warpage and shrinkage reduction and concurrently improved mechanical properties than compounds filled with bigger sized fillers. Based on the optimal properties profile, a ternary blend that can overcome the shrinkage and warpage of printed parts is suggested.

AB - A major challenge in extrusion-based additive manufacturing is the lack of commercially available materials compared to those in well-established processes like injection molding or extrusion. This study aims at expanding the material database by evaluating the feasibility of polypropylene, which is one of the most common and technologically relevant semicrystalline polymers. Expanded-perlite-filled polypropylene and ternary blends with amorphous polyolefins are evaluated to establish an understanding of their processability and their printability. A detailed study on the shrinkage behavior, as well as on the thermal, mechanical, morphological, and warpage properties is performed. It is found that smaller sized fillers result in a tremendous warpage and shrinkage reduction and concurrently improved mechanical properties than compounds filled with bigger sized fillers. Based on the optimal properties profile, a ternary blend that can overcome the shrinkage and warpage of printed parts is suggested.

KW - additive manufacturing

KW - fillers

KW - microstructure

KW - poly(propylene)

KW - shrinkage

KW - warpage

UR - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mame.201700143/epdf

U2 - 10.1002/mame.201700143

DO - 10.1002/mame.201700143

M3 - Article

VL - 302.2017

JO - Macromolecular materials and engineering

JF - Macromolecular materials and engineering

SN - 1438-7492

IS - 10

M1 - 1700143

ER -