Parameter study of Fused Deposition Modeling process on thermo-mechanical properties of the final 3D structures made by metal/polymer composite filaments

New metal/polymer composite filaments for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) process were developed in order to observe the thermo-mechanical properties of the new filaments. The ABS thermoplastic mixed with Cu and Fe particles, respectively. Contents of the metal powder were varied to confirm the effect of metal particles on thermo-mechanical properties of the filament such as tensile properties and thermal conductivity. The printing parameters such as the temperature and Fill Density were also differentiated to see the effect of the parameters on the tensile property of the final product that was made by using the FDM process. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that the tensile strength of the composites is decreased by increasing in the amount of metal particles. On the other hand, the thermal conductivity of the metal/polymer composite filament was improved as increasing in metal content. It is believed that the metal/polymer filament would be used to print metal and large-scale 3D structures without any distortion by the thermal expansion of thermoplastics.