Superior tensile properties of FDM 3D-printed TPU/E-TPU layered structure

Abstract

The study examines 3D printing technology for robust and flexible prototypes, concentrating on FDM to improve the tensile properties of multilayer TPU and conductive TPU. This research aims at the mechanical properties of layered materials to evaluate how effectively rapid prototyping approaches adhere to robust and soft components. The research evaluated five TPU/E-TPU filaments that additively produced multilayer assemblies: Models (TET), (ETE), (TETE/ETET), (pure TPU), and (pure E-TPU). Models of pure TPU and pure E-TPU serve as standards for comparison. We tailored three input parameters at three levels each: layer thickness, printing speed, and extruder temperature. The experimental results of TET (emphasizing flexibility) and ETE (prioritizing electric conductivity)-layered model arrangements lead to the best mechanical properties. The ANOVA results for the tensile strength extension response models; R² = 75.7%; adjusted R² = 69.3%; and the tensile strain at yield is R² = 71.4%; adjusted R² = 65.7%.

Graphical abstract