Optimisation of extrusion process parameters to make ABS-PC filament for 3D printing using Taguchi-GRA technique

ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to optimise the single screw extrusion (SSE) process parameters for extruding Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and Polycarbonate (PC) blend filament, having improved tensile strength and melt flow rate. The melt flow and mechanical properties of ABS-PC blend filament are highly reliant on the SSE process parameters. Thus, optimising the process parameters to fabricate the blend filaments with high performance has become essential. Grey relational analysis has been integrated with the Taguchi method to optimise the SSE process parameters by evaluating the grey relational grades in terms of the performance index. Experimentation has been carried out according to Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array (OA), which has been designed considering three SSE process parameters, i.e. screw rotation, blend composition and chamber temperature. The co-continuous structure and compatibility between the phases of the blend obtained at ABS:PC 50:50 by wt%. Micrographs and thermographs support the results. The tensile strength of the 3D printed ABS:PC 50:50 by wt.% composite specimen has improved by 38.02% as compared to virgin ABS.

KEYWORDS:

• Grey relation analysis
• single screw extrusion
• tensile strength
• melt flow rate

Acknowledgements

The Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, sponsored by TEQIP-III and located in the Mechanical Engineering Department, as well as the Polymer Testing Laboratory, located in the Chemical Engineering Department, at Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal, are acknowledged by the authors as being used for research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contribution

Kumar Praveen: conceptualisation, experimentation, approach, literature – review and rewriting. Gupta Pardeep: conceptualisation, text – review and rewriting. Singh Indraj: analysis and checking.

Approval to participate

The authors provide permission to take part.

Approval for publication

The authors grant permission to publish.

Competing appeals

The authors mention that they have no conflicting agendas.

Financial support

No public or commercial organisations have funded this research.

Ethics authorisation

The work doesn’t violate anyone’s rights, contain any libellous or illegal statements, or provide any instructions or materials that could lead to harm or injury.