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Advanced Infill Designs for 3D Printed Shape-Memory Components.

Daniel Koske1, Andrea Ehrmann1

  • 1Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, 33619 Bielefeld, Germany.

Micromachines
|October 23, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Optimized infill designs for 3D printed Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) enable shape recovery after deformation. These designs prevent internal connections from breaking, allowing multiple shape-memory cycles with minimal force loss.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Additive Manufacturing

Background:

  • Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a widely used polymer in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing.
  • PLA is also a shape memory polymer (SMP) with a glass transition temperature around 60 °C, enabling 4D printing and shape recovery applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate optimized infill designs for PLA objects to enhance shape recovery capabilities.
  • To improve the durability of 3D printed PLA under repeated deformation and recovery cycles.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized fused deposition modeling (FDM) for 3D printing PLA objects with various infill designs.
  • Conducted 3-point bending tests to evaluate the mechanical performance and failure modes of the printed objects.
  • Assessed the shape recovery behavior and durability through multiple deformation and recovery cycles.
Keywords:
3D printing4D printingfused deposition modeling (FDM)infill patternspoly(lactic acid) (PLA)shape-memory polymer (SMP)

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Main Results:

  • Identified specific infill designs that prevent the breaking of internal connections during 3-point bending tests.
  • Demonstrated that optimized infill structures allow for multiple shape recovery cycles with only a minor reduction in maximum force at a given deflection.
  • Showcased the potential for enhanced durability and repeated functionality in 4D printed PLA objects.

Conclusions:

  • Optimized infill designs are crucial for maximizing the shape memory effect and durability of 3D printed PLA.
  • These findings pave the way for more robust and reusable 4D printed structures capable of withstanding repeated mechanical stress and deformation.