Effects of printing parameters on the tensile behavior of 3D‐printed acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) material in Z direction

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), which is a popular and widely additive manufacturing technique, opens alternative possibilities for complex geometries that are hard to manufacture using classic manufacturing techniques. Its use in functional products is however limited because of anisotropic strength issues, where the strength of FDM‐fabricated parts in the build direction ( Z direction) can be significantly lower than in the X – Y directions. This work aims at addressing this particular point for a not‐well‐known polymer, namely acrylonitrile styrene acrylate or ASA. Using central composite design and response surface methodology, the nozzle temperature (A), printing speed (B), and layer thickness (C) were studied in a systematic manner to evaluate their effects on the Z‐direction tensile properties of 3D‐printed ASA's samples. Analysis of variance results demonstrate that layer thickness is the most influential printing parameter on interlayers bonding. The best tensile properties for 3D‐printed ASA parts were achieved with parts produced at A = 270°C, B = 60 mm s −1 , and C = 0.155 mm. Scanning electron microscopy observation confirms that printing ASA material with those optimum parameters clearly improves the interlayers' bonding in the build direction.