Investigating the Fracture Performance of the FDM-ABS Specimens for Low-Temperature Applications

Abstract

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) represents a subcategory of additive manufacturing that encompasses different manufacturing parameters, which significantly influence the mechanical performance of printed components. Moreover, FDM-produced parts may be subjected to various temperature conditions across various industrial applications. In this study, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) FDM specimens were printed with three distinct layer orientations and conditioned at temperatures of −20°C, −10°C, 0°C, and 25°C for 12 h. Tensile and mode I fracture experiments were conducted, revealing an increase in elastic modulus at lower temperatures. At 0°C, the fracture resistance was found to be 12.1, 18.6, and 6 kJ/m² for flat, on-edge, and upright layer orientations, respectively. Besides, the fracture properties of the tested parts were calibrated for future fracture predictions considering various modes of loading. The fracture surfaces of tensile specimens were subsequently examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to clarify the underlying fracture mechanisms. Fractographic analysis primarily identified irregular patterns and stair–step features, which related to the energy absorption process and interlayer resistance against the failure. Higher amounts of ridge markings were observed in the 0°C conditional temperature, which annotated higher plastic deformations during the tensile loading condition. The SEM results were in accordance with the tensile mechanical properties.