TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of ionising radiation on the mechanical and structural properties of 3D printed plastics
AU - Wady, Paul
AU - Wasilewski, Alex
AU - Brock, Lucy
AU - Edge, Ruth
AU - Baidak, Aliaksandr
AU - McBride, Connor
AU - Leay, Laura
AU - Griffiths, Arron
AU - Valles, Cristina
PY - 2019/10/24
Y1 - 2019/10/24
N2 - This work investigates the evolution of the tensile and structural properties of fused filament fabrication (FFF), formed polymers under gamma irradiation. Commercial off-the-shelf print filaments of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Chlorinated polyethylene elastomer (CPE), Nylon, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and Polycarbonate (PC) were exposed to gamma-ray doses of up to 5.3 MGy. The suitability of FFF-formed components made from these materials for use in radiation environments is evaluated by considering their structural properties. We identify clear trends in the structural properties of all the materials tested and correlate them with changes in the chemical structure. We find that Nylon shows the best performance under these conditions, with no change in ultimate tensile strength and an increase in stiffness. However, some of our findings suggest that the effect of additives to this type of filament may result in potentially undesirable adhesive properties. The organic polymer PLA was notably more radiation-sensitive than the other materials tested, showing 50 % decrease in Young’s Modulus and ultimate tensile strength at order of magnitude lower radiation dose. A mechanism is proposed whereby FFF-processed components would have substantially different radiation tolerances than bulk material.
AB - This work investigates the evolution of the tensile and structural properties of fused filament fabrication (FFF), formed polymers under gamma irradiation. Commercial off-the-shelf print filaments of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Chlorinated polyethylene elastomer (CPE), Nylon, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and Polycarbonate (PC) were exposed to gamma-ray doses of up to 5.3 MGy. The suitability of FFF-formed components made from these materials for use in radiation environments is evaluated by considering their structural properties. We identify clear trends in the structural properties of all the materials tested and correlate them with changes in the chemical structure. We find that Nylon shows the best performance under these conditions, with no change in ultimate tensile strength and an increase in stiffness. However, some of our findings suggest that the effect of additives to this type of filament may result in potentially undesirable adhesive properties. The organic polymer PLA was notably more radiation-sensitive than the other materials tested, showing 50 % decrease in Young’s Modulus and ultimate tensile strength at order of magnitude lower radiation dose. A mechanism is proposed whereby FFF-processed components would have substantially different radiation tolerances than bulk material.
KW - 3D printed polymers
KW - ionising radiation
KW - mechanical properties
KW - radiation environment
KW - radiation-induced degradation
KW - fuse filament fabrication
U2 - 10.1016/j.addma.2019.100907
DO - 10.1016/j.addma.2019.100907
M3 - Article
SN - 2214-8604
VL - 31
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - Additive Manufacturing
JF - Additive Manufacturing
M1 - 100907
ER -