Additive manufacturing of multilayered polymer composites: Durability assessment

Abstract

This study examines the impact of additive manufacturing (AM) settings on the durability of 3D-printed polymer composite objects in terms of object color appearance and corresponding mechanical properties when subjected to simulated environmental conditions using accelerated aging. For this purpose, the AM pre-processing factors that influence the performance of the composite material, such as build platform position, color, and finishing configurations, are discussed. The experimental campaign was designed according to the Taguchi method to minimize the color difference and maximize the mechanical parameters. The results indicate that the best factor parameters for each performance characteristic differ following the design goal. Accordingly, black-on-white with a glossy-on-matte finish manufactured on the outer swath demonstrated the best color and mechanical performance fidelity, where the studied properties were not altered significantly due to aging.