Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid/Tin Bronze Tensile Strength Bars Additive Manufactured by Fused Deposition Modelling

Abstract

Tensile stress bar samples have been additive manufactured by fused deposition modelling (FDM) route by using polylactic acid (PLA)/tin bronze filament, thermal de-binding and air sintering. The samples reach sintered density of 7.42 g/cm3 or 85% of the relative density of the continuously casted CuSn10 reference. Tensile stress testing of the samples shows rather moderate mechanical properties, about half yield strength and one third maximal strength, elongation and hardness of the reference. Increase in the sample core density and elimination of large, agglomerated pores may result in largest improvement of the mechanical properties.