Blending of fiber reinforced materials using big area additive manufacturing (BAAM)

Thomas Z. Sudbury, Christine Ajinjeru, Vidya Kishore, Chad Duty, Peng Liu, Vlastimil Kunc

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Functionally graded materials (FGM) are attractive for their use in additive manufacturing (AM) systems because they allow for the use of a less expensive material with sub-optimal mechanical properties for the majority of the part, while using a more expensive, higher performance material in selected areas where needed. This approach has the potential to optimize cost with weight and mechanical performance. FGMs have been studied extensively in the area of hybrid composites, but the application of FGM is not common in additive manufacturing due to the widespread use of homogeneous feedstock materials. The Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) system has the potential to print FGM structures because it uses a pelletized feedstock that is similar to injection molding and conventional extrusion processes. This approach allows BAAM to blend commodity materials and high performance engineering polymers as needed in a particular part. This study investigates the transition between BAAM materials as a function of extrusion screw design and processing conditions. Specifically, the transition between neat acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and carbon fiber reinforced ABS is analyzed, and a fiber content shape function is generated to characterize the degree of blending.

Original languageEnglish
Pages1900-1912
Number of pages13
StatePublished - 2017
EventSAMPE Seattle 2017 Conference - Seattle, United States
Duration: May 22 2017May 25 2017

Conference

ConferenceSAMPE Seattle 2017 Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySeattle
Period05/22/1705/25/17

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