Evaluating the Strength of Popular 3D Printing Thermoplastics: PLA and ABS

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted on three commonly used 3D printing thermoplastics: PLA, PETG, and ABS. It found that these materials behave significantly in terms of the energy they dissipate. The study compared their energy-dissipation properties. All materials were made into FDM-produced samples. They were excited by a pulse, and their vibrational response was measured without contact using a portable Doppler vibrometer. The study used two methods, the logarithmic decrement and envelope curve analysis, to focus on time-domain oscillation waveforms that cover their first natural bending frequency. This approach helps calculate their damping ratios. From this ratio, the researchers calculated the damping force and dissipation energy per unit mass. Results indicate that the energy dissipated by ABS and PLA samples is very similar; in fact, PLA dissipated about 4.91% more than ABS. In contrast, the PETG sample showed much lower energy dissipation, with the maximum value being about 14.19% less than that of ABS. This difference may be due to aging effects since PETG was produced earlier and exposed to various conditions. This study assessed material types and aging environments concerning energy dissipation during oscillation in 3D printed composites. It serves as an invitation for future work on moisture and aging effects versus damping properties. Although this research opens some doors for understanding dynamic mechanical behaviors of popular 3D printing materials under conditions that may require vibration damping, it highlights a significant gap that still needs to be addressed.