CaCO₃ Polymorphs Used as Additives in Filament Production for 3D Printing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Additive manufacturing, particularly fused filament fabrication (FFF), is a key technology for producing diverse industrial products.
• Filament properties are crucial for 3D printed part quality, with additives playing a significant role in enhancement.
• Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a common filler, but its polymorphic forms (aragonite, calcite, vaterite) can influence material characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of different calcium carbonate (CaCO3) polymorphs on the properties of 3D printing filaments.
• To determine how synthetic and commercial CaCO3 fillers influence filament characteristics during fused filament fabrication (FFF).
• To identify specific CaCO3 forms that can enhance the mechanical performance of 3D printed materials.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polymeric filaments using fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology.
• Incorporation of three synthetic CaCO3 polymorphs (aragonite, calcite, vaterite) and commercial calcite as fillers.
• Comprehensive analysis of filament properties using various testing techniques.

Main Results:

• The type of CaCO3 polymorph used as a filler significantly influenced the resulting filament properties.
• Filaments incorporating aragonite particles exhibited improved mechanical properties compared to other forms.
• Calcite and vaterite polymorphs also affected filament characteristics, though to a lesser extent than aragonite.

Conclusions:

• The polymorphic form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a critical factor in tailoring the properties of 3D printing filaments.
• Aragonite demonstrates potential as an effective additive for enhancing the mechanical performance of FFF-produced parts.
• These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing material selection in additive manufacturing for improved product performance.