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. 2021 Aug 31;13(17):2951.
doi: 10.3390/polym13172951.

Mechanical Properties of PC-ABS-Based Graphene-Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites Fabricated by FDM Process

Vijay Tambrallimath  1 , R Keshavamurthy  2 , Saravana D Bavan  3 , Arun Y Patil  4 , T M Yunus Khan  5 , Irfan Anjum Badruddin  5 , Sarfaraz Kamangar  5
Affiliations

Mechanical Properties of PC-ABS-Based Graphene-Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites Fabricated by FDM Process

Vijay Tambrallimath et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

This experimental study investigates the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites containing nanofiller developed by fused deposition modelling (FDM). A novel polymer nanocomposite was developed by amalgamating polycarbonate-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC-ABS) by blending with graphene nanoparticles in the following proportions: 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 wt %. The composite filaments were developed using a twin-screw extrusion method. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, low-velocity impact strength, and surface roughness of pure PC-ABS and PC-ABS + graphene were compared. It was observed that with the addition of graphene, tensile strength and impact strength improved, and a reduction in surface roughness was observed along the build direction. These properties were analyzed to understand the dispersion of graphene in the PC-ABS matrix and its effects on the parameters of the study. With the 0.8 wt % addition of graphene to PC-ABS, the tensile strength increased by 57%, and the impact resistance increased by 87%. A reduction in surface roughness was noted for every incremental addition of graphene to PC-ABS. The highest decrement was seen for the 0.8 wt % addition of graphene reinforcement that amounted to 40% compared to PC-ABS.

Keywords: FDM; graphene; mechanical properties; polymer nanocomposite.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of process flow.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photographs of (a) PC and (b) ABS.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photograph of filaments with incremental filler content. (a) PC-ABS. (b) PC-ABS + 0.2 wt % graphene. (c) PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene. (d) PC-ABS + 0.6 wt % graphene. (e) PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Photograph of FDM machine used for fabrication of parts.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Measurement of surface roughness on the top surface at various positions.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Tensile specimen dimensions. (b) Photograph of tensile specimen.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Tensile specimen dimensions. (b) Photograph of tensile specimen.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Photograph of impact test specimen developed by FDM. (b) Photograph of scheme of loading during Izod impact test.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Photograph of impact test specimen developed by FDM. (b) Photograph of scheme of loading during Izod impact test.
Figure 8
Figure 8
(a) XRD analysis graphene. (b) Raman spectrograph of graphene.
Figure 9
Figure 9
SEM and elemental mapping of (a,b) PC-ABS, (c,d) PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene, and (e,f) PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
Figure 9
Figure 9
SEM and elemental mapping of (a,b) PC-ABS, (c,d) PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene, and (e,f) PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
Figure 10
Figure 10
(a) SEM of graphene-reinforced PC-ABS. (b) EDAX of graphene. (c) Graphene dispersion in PC-ABS.
Figure 11
Figure 11
XRD of PC-ABS, PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene, and PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
Figure 12
Figure 12
(a) SEM of vertical plane section of FDM-printed surface of PC-ABS. (b) SEM of vertical plane section of FDM-printed surface of PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene. (c) SEM of vertical plane section of FDM-printed surface of PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene. (d) SEM of void formation in PC-ABS. (e) SEM of void formation in PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
Figure 12
Figure 12
(a) SEM of vertical plane section of FDM-printed surface of PC-ABS. (b) SEM of vertical plane section of FDM-printed surface of PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene. (c) SEM of vertical plane section of FDM-printed surface of PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene. (d) SEM of void formation in PC-ABS. (e) SEM of void formation in PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Variation of surface roughness with the addition of graphene in X direction (build direction).
Figure 14
Figure 14
Isometric view of FDM-printed parts of (a) PC-ABS, (b) PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene, (c) PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Variation of tensile strength with increase in graphene content.
Figure 16
Figure 16
SEM of fractured tensile specimens of PC-ABS, PC-ABS + 0.2 wt % graphene, and PC-ABS + 0.6 wt % graphene.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Stress–strain graph of PC-ABS and its composites.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Variation in impact strength with increase in graphene content.
Figure 19
Figure 19
Photographs of fractured specimens after impact test: (a) PC-ABS; (b) PC-ABS + 0.2 wt % graphene; (c) PC-ABS + 0.4 wt % graphene; (d) PC-ABS + 0.6 wt % graphene; (e) PC-ABS + 0.8 wt % graphene.
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