Effects of Thermal Cycling on the Mechanical Strength of TPU 3D-Printed Material

Abstract

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is a three-dimensional (3D) printing technology known for its low-cost rapid manufacturing of parts. Nowadays, various industries such as automotive, aerospace, and maritime are using this technology to manufacture 3D-printed parts that have undergone high temperatures. The material used in this study is the Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), which is the most commonly-used type of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) in 3D printing. This material is a combination of substances from the qualities and characteristics of both thermoplastic and vulcanized thermoset rubber. TPU has excellent abrasion resistance, hardness, chemical, and thermal resistance properties. In addition, TPU is a great fit for making hoses, gaskets, and seals due to its oil and grease resistance properties. Due to the growing application of 3D-printed materials at elevated temperatures, this study aims to characterize the tensile strength of TPU 3D-printed materials when thermal cycled. The test results concluded that the tensile properties of TPU 3D-printed specimens were significantly influenced by the number of thermal cycles it was subjected to. The samples that underwent four thermal cycles exhibited the highest modulus of elasticity and stress at 200% strain. While samples which underwent 2, 8, and 16 thermal cycles resulted to a higher modulus of elasticity and tensile stress at 200% strain than the untreated specimen.