Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of As-Built and Annealed Polyamide and Polyamide Composites Processed through Fused Deposition Modeling

This article explores the impact of As-built versus annealed Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) on the mechanical properties of test samples fabricated from two distinct materials: Polyamide 6 (PA6) and PA6 with carbon fiber filament. Employing the FDM technique, these samples were meticulously produced, with significant process parameters maintained at optimal values. Two sets of printed specimens were prepared for examination, one composed of PA6 and the other of PA6 with carbon fiber (CF) reinforcement. The first set was subjected to mechanical testing in its As-built condition, while the second set underwent an annealing process utilizing a muffle furnace. The annealing reduces internal stresses, enhances interlayer adhesion, and promotes crystallinity. For both the sent samples exposed to comprehensive assessments to evaluate various mechanical performance attributes, including hardness, impact strength, tensile strength and flexural strength. The results of this study elucidate that PA6 with carbon fiber exhibited superior mechanical properties than PA6. In further, this study offers valuable insights into the influence of FDM post-processing techniques, such as annealing, on the mechanical behavior of printed components. In FDM Annealed PA6 with carbon fiber emerged as the combination with the most superior mechanical properties across hardness, impact strength, and tensile strength. This study underscores the significance of carbon fiber reinforcement and annealing in enhancing the mechanical performance of PA6 components, providing valuable insights for applications demanding robust mechanical properties.