Enhancing the mechanical performance of additive manufactured polymer components using atmospheric plasma pre-treatments

This study evaluates the use of a barrel atmospheric plasma system for the treatment of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polylactic acid polymer particles. Treatments were carried out in a helium discharge with either oxygen or nitrogen addition. The plasma activated polymer particles were then used to prepare filaments, which in-turn were then used to fabricated parts by additive manufacturing. The resultant dog bone polymer parts exhibited up to a 22% increase in tensile strength, compared to parts fabricated using unactivated polymer particles. The explanation for the increased mechanical strength is the enhanced activation of the treated polymer particles, as well as the removal of contaminations from the polymer surface. [GRAPHICS] .