Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene TiO₂ and ATO Nanocomposites

In order to enhance the mechanical performance of three-dimensional (3D) printed structures fabricated via commercially available fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers, novel nanocomposite filaments were produced herein following a melt mixing process, and further 3D printed and characterized. Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) and Antimony (Sb) doped Tin Oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles (NPs), hereafter denoted as ATO, were selected as fillers for a polymeric acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic matrix at various weight % (wt%) concentrations. Tensile and flexural test specimens were 3D printed, according to international standards. It was proven that TiO₂ filler enhanced the overall tensile strength by 7%, the flexure strength by 12%, and the micro-hardness by 6%, while for the ATO filler, the corresponding values were 9%, 13%, and 6% respectively, compared to unfilled ABS. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the size of TiO₂ (40 ± 10 nm) and ATO (52 ± 11 nm) NPs. Raman spectroscopy was performed for the TiO₂ and ATO NPs as well as for the 3D printed nanocomposites to verify the polymer structure and the incorporated TiO₂ and ATO nanocrystallites in the polymer matrix. The scope of this work was to fabricate novel nanocomposite filaments using commercially available materials with enhanced overall mechanical properties that industry can benefit from.