Mechanical Performance Analysis of ULTEM 9085 in a Heated, Irradiated Environment

Author(s):  
Matthew B. Ng ◽  
Sean N. Brennan

This paper investigates the thermal and radiation performance of 3D-printed ULTEM materials following ASTM standard D638. ULTEM is a thermoplastic in the polyetherimide (PEI) family that is regularly used as a high-grade material for 3D printing. This material has similar properties to polyether ether ketone (PEEK), which is another thermoplastic that has strong mechanical properties at elevated temperature conditions. While PEEK has stronger mechanical properties, ULTEM is significantly more cost efficient to acquire and process via 3D printing. Also, most 3D printers are unable to utilize PEEK because of the significantly higher temperature requirements this material imposes on a 3D printer. This work is motivated by the need to rapidly deploy robotic inspection systems within a nuclear canister environment, which exposes the material to temperatures up to 170°C (340°F), and radiation levels of 270 Gy/hr (27 krad/hr), which are significantly beyond that of conventional 3D-printed parts. The design analysis was performed via an experiment consisting of three treatment groups of dogbone ULTEM test pieces. After tensile testing all of the pieces, the material properties were compared to those of the control group. These results allow manufacturers to select a more cost-effective material to build parts to operate in such a harsh high-temperature, high-radiation environment, which could include applications in both space systems and nuclear inspection robotics. Specifically, the results were used to guide the development of a robust robotic inspection system for the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) by replacing complex parts with easily-fabricated 3D-printed ULTEM pieces.

Author(s):  
Behzad Rankouhi ◽  
Fereidoon Delfanian ◽  
Robert McTaggart ◽  
Todd Letcher

The following work is presented as a preliminary study on the effects of gamma irradiation on mechanical properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) as an in-space 3D printing feedstock to investigate the forthcoming possibilities of this technology for future space exploration missions. 3D printed testing samples were irradiated at different dosages from 1 to 1400 kGy (1 Gray (Gy) = 1 J/kg = 100 rad) using a Cobalt-60 gamma irradiator to simulate space radiation environment. Testing samples were manufactured using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) with a Makerbot Replicator 2x 3D printer. The correlation between the mechanical properties of irradiated samples and accumulated radiation dosage were evaluated by a series of tensile and flexural tests. Furthermore, Shore hardness tests were conducted to evaluate changes in surface hardness of irradiated parts. Finally, results were compared with a control group of samples. Findings showed a significant decrease in mechanical performance and noticeable changes in appearance of the parts with accumulated dosage of 1000 kGy and higher. However, for dosages below 10 kGy, samples showed no significant decrease in mechanical performance or change in appearance. These results were used to predict the life of a 3D printed part on board the International Space Station (ISS), on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, in deep space and long duration missions.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5264
Author(s):  
Bharat Yelamanchi ◽  
Eric MacDonald ◽  
Nancy G. Gonzalez-Canche ◽  
Jose G. Carrillo ◽  
Pedro Cortes

The production and mechanical properties of fiber metal laminates (FMLs) based on 3D printed composites have been investigated in this study. FMLs are structures constituting an alternating arrangement of metal and composite materials that are used in the aerospace sector due to their unique mechanical performance. 3D printing technology in FMLs could allow the production of structures with customized configuration and performance. A series of continuous carbon fiber reinforced composites were printed on a Markforged system and placed between layers of aluminum alloy to manufacture a novel breed of FMLs in this study. These laminates were subjected to tensile, low velocity and high velocity impact tests. The results show that the tensile strength of the FMLs falls between the strength of their constituent materials, while the low and high velocity impact performance of the FMLs is superior to those observed for the plain aluminum and the composite material. This mechanism is related to the energy absorption process displayed by the plastic deformation, and interfacial delamination within the laminates. The present work expects to provide an initial research platform for considering 3D printing in the manufacturing process of hybrid laminates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 144 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Joralmon ◽  
Evangeline Amonoo ◽  
Yizhen Zhu ◽  
Xiangjia Li

Abstract Lightweight and cost-effective polymer matrix composites (PMCs) with extraordinary mechanical performance will be a key to the next generation of diverse industrial applications, such as aerospace, electric automobile, and biomedical devices. Limpet teeth made of mineral-polymer composites have been proved as nature’s strongest material due to the unique hierarchical architectures of mineral fiber alignment. Here, we present an approach to build limpet teeth inspired structural materials with precise control of geometric morphologies of microstructures by magnetic field-assisted 3D printing (MF-3DP). α-Iron (III) oxide-hydroxide nanoparticles (α-FeOOHs) are aligned by the magnetic field during 3D printing and aligned α-FeOOHs (aFeOOHs) bundles are further grown to aligned goethite-based bundles (aGBs) by rapid thermal treatment after printing. The mechanical reinforcement of aGBs in PMCs can be modulated by adjusting the geometric morphology and alignment of α-FeOOHs encapsulated inside the 3D printed PMCs. In order to identify the mechanical enhancement mechanism, physics-based modeling, simulation, and tests were conducted, and the results further guided the design of bioinspired goethite-based PMCs. The correlation of the geometric morphology of self-assembled α-FeOOHs, curing characteristics of α-FeOOHs/polymer composite, and process parameters were identified to establish the optimal design of goethite-based PMCs. The 3D printed PMCs with aGBs show promising mechanical reinforcement compared with PMCs without aGBs. This study opens intriguing perspectives for designing high strength 3D printed PMCs on the basis of bioinspired architectures with customized configurations.


Author(s):  
Dylan Joralmon ◽  
Evangeline Amonoo ◽  
Yizhen Zhu ◽  
Xiangjia Li

Abstract Lightweight and cost-effective polymer matrix composites (PMCs) with extraordinary mechanical performance will be a key to the next generation of diverse industrial applications such as aerospace, electric automobile, and biomedical devices. Limpet teeth made of mineral-polymer composites have been proved as nature’s strongest material due to the unique hierarchical architectures of mineral fiber alignment. Here, we present an approach to build limpet teeth inspired structural materials with precise control of geometric morphologies of microstructures by magnetic field-assisted 3D printing (MF-3DP). α-Iron (III) oxide-hydroxide nanoparticles (α-FeOOHs) are aligned by the magnetic field during 3D printing and aligned α-FeOOHs bundles are further grown to aligned goethite-based bundles (aGBs) by rapid thermal treatment after printing. The mechanical reinforcement of goethite-based fillers in PMCs can be modulated by adjusting the geometric morphology and alignment of mineral particles encapsulated inside the 3D printed PMCs. In order to identify the mechanical enhancement mechanism, physics-based modeling, simulation, and tests were conducted and the results further guided the design of bioinspired goethite-based PMCs. The correlation of the geometric morphology of self-assembled α-FeOOHs, curing characteristics of α-FeOOHs/polymer composite, and process parameters were identified to establish the optimal design of goethite-based PMCs. The 3D-printed PMCs with aGBs show promising mechanical reinforcement. This study opens intriguing perspectives for designing high strength 3D printed PMCs on the basis of bioinspired architectures with customized configurations.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 4132
Author(s):  
Catalin Gheorghe Amza ◽  
Aurelian Zapciu ◽  
Florin Baciu ◽  
Mihai Ion Vasile ◽  
Adrian Ionut Nicoara

In outdoor environments, the action of the Sun through its ultraviolet radiation has a degrading effect on most materials, with polymers being among those affected. In the past few years, 3D printing has seen an increased usage in fabricating parts for functional applications, including parts destined for outdoor use. This paper analyzes the effect of accelerated aging through prolonged exposure to UV-B on the mechanical properties of parts 3D printed from the commonly used polymers polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate–glycol (PETG). Samples 3D printed from these materials went through a dry 24 h UV-B exposure aging treatment and were then tested against a control group for changes in mechanical properties. Both the tensile and compressive strengths were determined, as well as changes in material creep characteristics. After irradiation, PLA and PETG parts saw significant decreases in both tensile strength (PLA: −5.3%; PETG: −36%) and compression strength (PLA: −6.3%; PETG: −38.3%). Part stiffness did not change significantly following the UV-B exposure and creep behavior was closely connected to the decrease in mechanical properties. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fractographic analysis was carried out to better understand the failure mechanism and material structural changes in tensile loaded, accelerated aged parts.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Yang Zhang ◽  
Heng Bo Jiang ◽  
Jeong-Hyun Ryu ◽  
Hyojin Kang ◽  
Kwang-Mahn Kim ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to fabricate bioresorbable polylactide (PLA) membranes by 3D printing and compare their properties to those of the membranes fabricated by the conventional method and compare the effect of different pore sizes on the properties of the 3D-printed membranes. PLA membranes with three different pore sizes (large pore-479 μm, small pore-273 μm, and no pore) were 3D printed, and membranes fabricated using the conventional solvent casting method were used as the control group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) were taken to observe the morphology and obtain the porosity of the four groups. A tensile test was performed to compare the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation at break of the membranes. Preosteoblast cells were cultured on the membranes for 1, 3 and 7 days, followed by a WST assay and SEM, to examine the cell proliferation on different groups. As a result, the 3D-printed membranes showed superior mechanical properties to those of the solvent cast membranes, and the 3D-printed membranes exhibited different advantageous mechanical properties depending on the different pore sizes. The various fabrication methods and pore sizes did not have significantly different effects on cell growth. It is proven that 3D printing is a promising method for the fabrication of customized barrier membranes used in GBR/GTR.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1663
Author(s):  
Arnaud Kamdem Tamo ◽  
Ingo Doench ◽  
Lukas Walter ◽  
Alexandra Montembault ◽  
Guillaume Sudre ◽  
...  

Soft tissues are commonly fiber-reinforced hydrogel composite structures, distinguishable from hard tissues by their low mineral and high water content. In this work, we proposed the development of 3D printed hydrogel constructs of the biopolymers chitosan (CHI) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), both without any chemical modification, which processing did not incorporate any chemical crosslinking. The unique mechanical properties of native cellulose nanofibers offer new strategies for the design of environmentally friendly high mechanical performance composites. In the here proposed 3D printed bioinspired CNF-filled CHI hydrogel biomaterials, the chitosan serves as a biocompatible matrix promoting cell growth with balanced hydrophilic properties, while the CNFs provide mechanical reinforcement to the CHI-based hydrogel. By means of extrusion-based printing (EBB), the design and development of 3D functional hydrogel scaffolds was achieved by using low concentrations of chitosan (2.0–3.0% (w/v)) and cellulose nanofibers (0.2–0.4% (w/v)). CHI/CNF printed hydrogels with good mechanical performance (Young’s modulus 3.0 MPa, stress at break 1.5 MPa, and strain at break 75%), anisotropic microstructure and suitable biological response, were achieved. The CHI/CNF composition and processing parameters were optimized in terms of 3D printability, resolution, and quality of the constructs (microstructure and mechanical properties), resulting in good cell viability. This work allows expanding the library of the so far used biopolymer compositions for 3D printing of mechanically performant hydrogel constructs, purely based in the natural polymers chitosan and cellulose, offering new perspectives in the engineering of mechanically demanding hydrogel tissues like intervertebral disc (IVD), cartilage, meniscus, among others.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 562
Author(s):  
Catalin Gheorghe Amza ◽  
Aurelian Zapciu ◽  
George Constantin ◽  
Florin Baciu ◽  
Mihai Ion Vasile

Parts made from thermoplastic polymers fabricated through 3D printing have reduced mechanical properties compared to those fabricated through injection molding. This paper analyzes a post-processing heat treatment aimed at enhancing mechanical properties of 3D printed parts, in order to reduce the difference mentioned above and thus increase their applicability in functional applications. Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) polymer is used to 3D print test parts with 100% infill. After printing, samples are packed in sodium chloride powder and then heat treated at a temperature of 220 °C for 5 to 15 min. During heat treatment, the powder acts as support, preventing deformation of the parts. Results of destructive testing experiments show a significant increase in tensile and compressive strength following heat treatment. Treated parts 3D printed in vertical orientation, usually the weakest, display 143% higher tensile strength compared to a control group, surpassing the tensile strength of untreated parts printed in horizontal orientation—usually the strongest. Furthermore, compressive strength increases by 50% following heat treatment compared to control group. SEM analysis reveals improved internal structure after heat treatment. These results show that the investigated heat treatment increases mechanical characteristics of 3D printed PETG parts, without the downside of severe part deformation, thus reducing the performance gap between 3D printing and injection molding when using common polymers.


The Analyst ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diwakar M. Awate ◽  
Cicero C. Pola ◽  
Erica Shumaker ◽  
Carmen L Gomes ◽  
Jaime Javier Juarez

Despite having widespread application in the biomedical sciences, flow cytometers have several limitations that prevent their application to point-of-care (POC) diagnostics in resource-limited environments. 3D printing provides a cost-effective approach...


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1394
Author(s):  
Yong Sang Cho ◽  
So-Jung Gwak ◽  
Young-Sam Cho

In this study, we investigated the dual-pore kagome-structure design of a 3D-printed scaffold with enhanced in vitro cell response and compared the mechanical properties with 3D-printed scaffolds with conventional or offset patterns. The compressive modulus of the 3D-printed scaffold with the proposed design was found to resemble that of the 3D-printed scaffold with a conventional pattern at similar pore sizes despite higher porosity. Furthermore, the compressive modulus of the proposed scaffold surpassed that of the 3D-printed scaffold with conventional and offset patterns at similar porosities owing to the structural characteristics of the kagome structure. Regarding the in vitro cell response, cell adhesion, cell growth, and ALP concentration of the proposed scaffold for 14 days was superior to those of the control group scaffolds. Consequently, we found that the mechanical properties and in vitro cell response of the 3D-printed scaffold could be improved by kagome and dual-pore structures through DfAM. Moreover, we revealed that the dual-pore structure is effective for the in vitro cell response compared to the structures possessing conventional and offset patterns.


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