Work

A decision-making strategy for selection of FDM-based additively manufactured thermoplastics for industrial applications based on material attributes

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is an Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology that creates solid objects through layer-by-layer deposition of the material filament onto the build platform according to the specified CAD model. FDM is considered a sustainable technology that allows the manufacturing of functional products with minimal material usage and is compatible with a diverse range of polymers used for consumer or industrial products with a broad application range. To address the material selection problem, a multi-criteria decision-making strategy (MCDM) has been developed using the PROMETHEE II method for the assessment of the criteria. The candidate materials include commercially available FDM thermoplastics, i.e. standard polymers such as HIPS, ABS, PETG, PLA, engineering polymers such as PC, PA, PMMA, POM-H, and high performance polymers (HPPs) such as PVDF, PPS, PSU, PPSU, PEI and PEEK. Multiple criteria represent important material attributes required in industrial applications such as tensile strength, flexural strength, lightweightness, maximum service temperature, ultraviolet-ageing resistance, chemical resistance to acids and bases, chemical resistance to organic solvents, dimensional stability, surface quality, printability and material cost. The applicability of the proposed approach has been confirmed through three industrial product scenarios that correspond to different end-use product requirements. The results have shown that HPPs are versatile AM materials suitable for 3D printing applications across various industrial sectors due to their enhanced properties and superior resistance to harsh environments. The MCDM strategy can serve as an effective tool for informed selection of optimal 3D printing material for industrial applications at an early design stage.

Source: Sustainable Futures

DOI: 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100640

Authors: Sotiria Dimitrellou, Eleni Strantzali, Isidoros Iakovidis

Institution: University of West Attica

Language: English

Topic: Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies

Subfield: Automotive Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,340