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Mechanical Property Degradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) 3D Printed Parts under Ultraviolet Radiation

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Managing and Implementing the Digital Transformation (ISIEA 2022)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 525))

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Abstract

This study investigates the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV) on mechanical properties of 3D printed parts made of polylactic acid (PLA). Groups of samples 3D printed from thermoplastic PLA by a material extrusion process (MEX) were subjected to artificial UV radiation of two different wavelengths, 310 nm UVB and 254 nm UVC in order to replicate the aging effect prolonged UV exposure has on such parts. After exposure the samples were tested for tensile or compressive strength and the results were compared to an unexposed control group. PLA parts exposed to radiation for 24 h exhibited reduced mechanical strength, with a reduction in tensile strength of 5% to 9% and a reduction in compressive strength of 6% to 13%. Radiation in the UVC spectrum had a stronger impact on mechanical properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the internal structure of exposed samples and revealed microstructural changes at the fracture interface of tensile loaded parts.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042, Bucharest, Romania

    Aurelian Zapciu & Catalin Gheorghe Amza

  2. University of Passau, 94032, Passau, Germany

    Monica Ciolacu

  3. University of Malta, Msida, Malta

    Emmanuel Francalanza

  4. Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Erwin Rauch

Authors
  1. Aurelian Zapciu
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  2. Catalin Gheorghe Amza
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  3. Monica Ciolacu
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  4. Emmanuel Francalanza
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  5. Erwin Rauch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catalin Gheorghe Amza .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Engineering and Automation, Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Dominik T. Matt

  2. Industrial Engineering and Automation, Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Renato Vidoni

  3. Industrial Engineering and Automation, Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Erwin Rauch

  4. Industrial Engineering and Automation, Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Patrick Dallasega

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Zapciu, A., Amza, C.G., Ciolacu, M., Francalanza, E., Rauch, E. (2022). Mechanical Property Degradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) 3D Printed Parts under Ultraviolet Radiation. In: Matt, D.T., Vidoni, R., Rauch, E., Dallasega, P. (eds) Managing and Implementing the Digital Transformation. ISIEA 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 525. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14317-5_3

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