Effect of 3D Printing Temperature Profile on Polymer Materials Behavior

This article presents the effect analysis of the printing time sequences on the mechanical properties in correlation with the crystallization kinetics and rheological behavior. For this purpose, two printing order of 3D printed samples (printed simultaneously or in sequence) were chosen. In addition, two different infill patterns (line and gyroid) and building directions (horizontal and vertical) have been used. Concerning the polymer filaments, two commercial polylactic acid (PLA 3D870 and PLA 3D850) having different crystallization kinetics were used. The effect of the printing time delay between each layer on the temperature profile and the crystallization evolution was studied using a finite element analysis method simulation. The simulation results show a greater thermal excursion for longer delay times between the layers and with a crystallization degree evolution characterized by a step pattern. Moreover, a major density of crystals appears in the center of the final part. A new approach was adapted to measure the volumetric contraction of the material as a function of the temperature; it was performed with a gap test using a rotational rheometer under static conditions (without external deformation). The normal force measured from the test has shown a faster and higher increase of the contraction for the material with faster crystallization kinetics and with a higher degree of crystallinity. The results concerning the tensile properties show better rigidity for the samples printed in sequence due to the minor time of delay between the deposited layers. The mesostructure of the printed parts was analyzed with an X-ray tomography and a scanning electron microscope. The highest difference is presented from the PLA 3D870 characterized by the highest rate of crystallization resulting in more microvoids compared with the PLA 3D850, due to the less welding cohesion between the layers.