Dorina Mihut, Arash Afshar, Emily Schmidt, Daniel David Sellers, Erin Parker, Mercer University, Macon, GA
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymers experience high demands in automotive, aerospace industry, for medical tools, electronic device protection, and sporting goods. They can be cost effectively produced by 3D printing methods using the fused deposition modeling (FSM) processes. The main disadvantage of using 3D printed ABS and TPU is their susceptibility to considerable deterioration during exposure to high temperatures, high humidity, and/ or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In order to prevent degradation and mechanical properties loss, the direct current (DC) high vacuum magnetron sputtering technique is used for depositing aluminum and/ or silver coatings with different thicknesses. Current research is testing changes in mechanical properties of the two polymers (pristine and coated) after exposure to accelerated weathering testing procedure (ASTM G154) and/or salt-water conditions. All samples (pristine and coated) are manufactured with dimensions in accordance to the standard (D 638-02a) and their mechanical properties (tensile, yield strength, ductility, modulus of elasticity) are determined using a tensile testing equipment (Mark-10). The adherence of the coatings to the substrate before and after the environmental testing is evaluated in conformity with standard (ISO 2409) and the surface features are investigated using the optical microscopy. Additional electrical measurements (conductivity) of the coated samples are performed before and after the environmental exposures. The coatings composition and structure of the coated samples is analyzed by X-Ray diffractometer.