The mechanical performance of components fabricated via fused deposition modeling (FDM) is critically influenced by both processing parameters and material selection. In this work, a systematic comparison was performed among acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), polyamide (PA), and carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide (PA-CF) to assess their tensile and flexural responses at three infill densities (33%, 66%, and 100%). Standardized ASTM specimens were printed under controlled conditions, and mechanical testing was complemented with fracture surface inspection to identify failure mechanisms associated with layer adhesion and internal porosity. A statistical analysis based on an analysis of variance (ANOVA) design revealed that both material type and infill density exert significant effects on strength, stiffness, and strain at break, with a strong interaction between the two factors. Increasing infill density consistently enhanced tensile and flexural strengths, although the degree of improvement depended on the intrinsic ductility and interlayer bonding of each polymer. Among the tested materials, PA exhibited the highest tensile and flexural strengths combined with superior ductility, while ASA showed greater stiffness but lower elongation. The PA-CF composite displayed intermediate performance, possibly influenced by the short carbon fibers embedded in the filament, which create local discontinuities within the polymer matrix and reduce overall ductility. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing FDM parameters to enhance the structural integrity of additively manufactured components.
Citation: Juan Sebastián Ramírez-Prieto, Juan Sebastián Martínez-Yáñez, Andrés Giovanni González-Hernández. Comparative study of the mechanical properties of ASA, nylon, and nylon reinforced with carbon fiber components made by 3D printing[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2025, 12(6): 1153-1175. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2025054
The mechanical performance of components fabricated via fused deposition modeling (FDM) is critically influenced by both processing parameters and material selection. In this work, a systematic comparison was performed among acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), polyamide (PA), and carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide (PA-CF) to assess their tensile and flexural responses at three infill densities (33%, 66%, and 100%). Standardized ASTM specimens were printed under controlled conditions, and mechanical testing was complemented with fracture surface inspection to identify failure mechanisms associated with layer adhesion and internal porosity. A statistical analysis based on an analysis of variance (ANOVA) design revealed that both material type and infill density exert significant effects on strength, stiffness, and strain at break, with a strong interaction between the two factors. Increasing infill density consistently enhanced tensile and flexural strengths, although the degree of improvement depended on the intrinsic ductility and interlayer bonding of each polymer. Among the tested materials, PA exhibited the highest tensile and flexural strengths combined with superior ductility, while ASA showed greater stiffness but lower elongation. The PA-CF composite displayed intermediate performance, possibly influenced by the short carbon fibers embedded in the filament, which create local discontinuities within the polymer matrix and reduce overall ductility. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing FDM parameters to enhance the structural integrity of additively manufactured components.
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Figures(9) / Tables(6)
Juan Sebastián Ramírez-Prieto, Juan Sebastián Martínez-Yáñez, Andrés Giovanni González-Hernández. Comparative study of the mechanical properties of ASA, nylon, and nylon reinforced with carbon fiber components made by 3D printing[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2025, 12(6): 1153-1175. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2025054
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