TY - JOUR
T1 - Detailed void characterisation by X-ray computed tomography of material extrusion 3D printed carbon fibre/PEEK
AU - Sommacal, S.
AU - Matschinski, A.
AU - Holmes, J.
AU - Drechsler, K.
AU - Compston, P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/3/15
Y1 - 2023/3/15
N2 - Material extrusion (ME) is one of the most popular techniques for 3D printing. However, despite offering almost unlimited flexibility in the design and choice of material of the printed components, it is yet to be widely adopted in the industry. Mechanical properties of printed parts are usually below expectations and this can be caused by the presence of voids, the most commonly encountered structural defect. Besides quantity, void type, shape, size, and their location, density and distribution within the microstructure can affect the material's mechanical properties. Detailed knowledge of void geometric characteristics is also crucial for modelling and simulation, and there is a need for comprehensive experimental derived void databases. In this work, X-ray micro-computed tomography has been utilised to image two samples printed by ME and their respective parent feedstock filaments. Voids have been identified, quantified, mapped in 3D, then individually labelled, and their key geometrical characteristics extracted and analysed. Furthermore, the effects of the printing process on voids' geometry and distribution have been qualitatively and quantitatively assessed.
AB - Material extrusion (ME) is one of the most popular techniques for 3D printing. However, despite offering almost unlimited flexibility in the design and choice of material of the printed components, it is yet to be widely adopted in the industry. Mechanical properties of printed parts are usually below expectations and this can be caused by the presence of voids, the most commonly encountered structural defect. Besides quantity, void type, shape, size, and their location, density and distribution within the microstructure can affect the material's mechanical properties. Detailed knowledge of void geometric characteristics is also crucial for modelling and simulation, and there is a need for comprehensive experimental derived void databases. In this work, X-ray micro-computed tomography has been utilised to image two samples printed by ME and their respective parent feedstock filaments. Voids have been identified, quantified, mapped in 3D, then individually labelled, and their key geometrical characteristics extracted and analysed. Furthermore, the effects of the printing process on voids' geometry and distribution have been qualitatively and quantitatively assessed.
KW - 3-D printing
KW - Additive manufacturing
KW - CT analysis
KW - Carbon fibres
KW - Fused filament fabrication
KW - Material extrusion
KW - Porosity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146143928&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.116635
DO - 10.1016/j.compstruct.2022.116635
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85146143928
SN - 0263-8223
VL - 308
JO - Composite Structures
JF - Composite Structures
M1 - 116635
ER -