Improvement of Surface Roughness and Hydrophobicity in PETG Parts Manufactured via Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): An Application in 3D Printed Self–Cleaning Parts

The fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique is used today by companies engaged in the fabrication of traffic signs for the manufacture of light-emitting diode LED spotlights. In this sector, the surface properties of the elements used (surface finish, hydrophobic features) are decisive because surfaces that retain little dirt and favor self–cleaning behavior are needed. A design of experiments (L27) with five factors and three levels has been carried out. The factors studied were: Layer height (LH), print temperature (T), print speed (PS), print acceleration (PA), and flow rate (F). Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) specimens of 25.0 × 25.0 × 2.4 mm have been printed and, in each of them, the surface roughness (R(a,0), R(a,90)), sliding angle (SA(0), SA(90)), and contact angle (CA(0), CA(90)) in both perpendicular directions have been measured. Taguchi and ANOVA analysis shows that the most influential variables in this case are printing acceleration for R(a, 0) (p–value = 0.052) and for SA(0) (p–value = 0.051) and flow rate for R(a, 90) (p–value = 0.001) and for SA(90) (p–value = 0.012). Although the ANOVA results for the contact angle are not significant, specimen 8 (PA = 1500 mm/s(2) and flow rate F = 110%) and specimen 10 (PA =1500 mm/s(2) and F = 100%) have reached contact angle values above or near the limit value for hydrophobia, respectively.