Effect of in fill patterns on 3d printed multiwall carbon nanotube based acrylonitrile butadiene styrene nanocomposite on mechanical properties

Addition of a very little weight percentage of micro or nanomaterials can result in enhancement of properties that will further increase the scope of use of the polymer. In this research work, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added in percentage ranging from 0.1 to 0.3% by weight in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and a spool in the form of material was prepared for 3D printing with the help of an extrusion machine. The samples were printed as per the ASTM D638 standard using dual extruder 3D printer by fused deposition modelling (FDM). The tensile and flexural tests were performed with and without multiwall carbon nanotubes in the ABS material. The tensile test results in an increase in strength by 21.61% while the flexural test results a decrease in strength by 15.13%. With both of the tests it indicates the increase in brittleness of the composites with increment in the percentage of nanomaterials. Further ahead in this research work, samples were prepared with variation in their printing pattern and in-fill percentage. Patterns selected were Full Honeycomb, Grid, Rectilinear and Triangular with 20, 50 and 100 % of in-fill for 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 % of MWCNT. The Rectilinear pattern with 100% infill for nanocomposite material 0.1% of MWCNT, shows maximum tensile strength 36.31 MPa and reduction in tensile strength of 18.00 MPa is observed with 0.3% MWCNT nanocomposite material with 20% infill. Grid pattern with 50% infill for natural ABS material shows maximum tensile strength of 26.67 MPa and the reduced tensile strength of 17.79 MPa is observed by 0.3% MWCNT nanocomposite material with 50% infill. Full Honeycomb pattern with 20% infill for natural ABS, shows maximum tensile strength 26.23 MPa and reduction in the tensile strength 20.43 MPa is obtained by 0.2% MWCNT nanocomposite material with 100% infill. Triangular pattern with 50% infill for natural ABS material shows maximum tensile strength of 30.34 MPa and reduction in the tensile strength of 19.92 MPa is tailored by 0.3% MWCNT nanocomposite material with 50% infill. Thus, the infilled 3D printed ABS nanocomposites with addition of the MWCNTs have significantly improved the mechanical properties with 0.1%wt of MCNTs then adding more weight percentage of MWCNTs have reduced the tensile strength.