3-D Printet Paper as Structural Material - Improving the Mechanical Properties of Paper Laminate with Epoxy

Abstract

This project has in two stages explored the possibilities and potential for improving the mechanical properties of the laminated paper material created with Mcor Technologies 3D printer IRIS. The first stage explored the effects of coating, soaking or vacuum infusing five hardening agents wood glue, diluted wood glue, urethane wood lacquer, epoxy wood finish, and lamination epoxy on specimens of the material, whose strong and weak axis were afterwards tested with three-point bending tests. Except for the lamination epoxy, none of the agents responded well to the infusion or improved the material s properties particularly with any of the treatments. The lamination epoxy however, did, and was therefore investigated further with a second series of eight 2 by 2 cm specimens that were longer than the first, to provide more reliable results from the bending test. The measurements were compared to theoretical specimens of pure epoxy and aluminium, whose corresponding bending stiffness and strength was calculated using classic beam theory. Infused and heat treated, the composite paper laminate was stiffer than the theoretical aluminium in both orientations, twice so if accounting for the difference in density, and over two thirds as strong compared to its weight. Key-words: 3D printing, paper composite, vacuum infusion, epoxy, three-point bending