Title: Fused-Granular-Fabrication using Sustainable Carbon Fibre/PEKK-PEEK Pellets: Process Parameter Identification

Authors: Ruan-Isabelle Richard Soucy, Adam W. Smith, Kevin Dupuis, Ilyass Tabiai, Martine Dubé

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/c.24.0323

Abstract: Sustainability is at the heart of today’s technological transformation, driving the development of new materials, new processes and more creative end-user applications. In this study, sustainable carbon fibre reinforced pellets made using recycled materials, including both PEKK and PEEK polymers, are evaluated in the fused granular fabrication (FGF) process. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry are employed to determine pellet thermal stability. FGF manufacturing trials featuring a standard test box geometry are conducted on a large-scale six-axis AM Flexbot robot from CEAD group. ASTM tensile and flexural specimens are extracted from the walls of printed boxes and used to assess the material’s mechanical performance relative to other comparable systems. Calorimetry results show that some polymer degradation, assumed to be in the form of cross-linking, occurs when the PEKK-PEEK matrix is held for an extended period of time in air at temperatures as low as 380 °C. This phenomenon was not duplicated in the FGF trials as the material is rapidly cooled following extrusion. Specimens extracted from boxes printed at 380 °C exhibited highly anisotropic mechanical properties, as is common in parts manufactured using polymer extrusion AM techniques. With additional process optimization, it is likely that mechanical performance can be improved, and better compared to industrial standards such as injection or compression moulding.

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Conference: CAMX 2024 | San Diego CA

Publication Date: 2024/9/9

SKU: TP24-0000000323

Pages: 15

Price: $30.00