Investigating process-dependent fracture energy in 3D-printed ABS using essential work of fracture: The role of nozzle temperature and print speed

In this study, the fracture behavior of additively manufactured polymers is strongly governed by process-induced microstructural features; however, the mechanisms governing crack initiation and propagation remain poorly understood. The influence of printing parameters, including printing speed and nozzle temperature, on the fracture behavior of 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is methodically suggested employing the essential work of fracture (EWF) method. The results show that increasing nozzle temperature enhances crack initiation resistance up to around 15 %. In addition, higher printing speed promotes increased fracture energy (approximately14 %), indicating enhanced energy dissipation prior to failure. The present findings offer novel perspectives on the processing–structure–fracture relationships in additively manufactured ABS and demonstrate the effectiveness of the EWF method for characterizing fracture behavior.