Theoretical, Numerical and Experimental Assessment of Temperature Response in Polylactic Acid and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Used in Additive Manufacturing

A better understanding of heat transfer through materials used for 3D-printed parts could lead to an extension and an optimization of their use. A topic of interest could be analyzing temperature variation in these materials during cooling processes. Experimental research and equipment were designed to obtain additional information on the surface temperature decrease when the opposite wall surface is exposed to a freezing temperature. Experimental tests were performed on samples made of polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). An experimental Taguchi L8 program was used, with seven independent variables at two levels of variation. The experimental data analysis with specialized software based on the least-squares method identified a mathematical model of first-degree polynomial type. The coefficients for each input factor involved provide information on the magnitude and trend of the considered output parameter when the input factors’ values change. It was found that the thickness of the 3D printing layer, the thickness of the test sample, and the 3D printing speed are the main factors that affect the temperature decrease rate.