Effect of 3D printing by fused deposition modelling on the microstructural and macrostructural properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid and polyamide 12

The objective of this research was to find a relationship between the microstructural and macrostructural properties of polylactic acid, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyamide 12 (PA12) when processed using fused deposition modelling. The crystallinity, enthalpy of crystallization (ΔHc), glass transition temperature (Tg) and Young's modulus (E) were evaluated. The results showed that crystallinity increased for all materials after the 3D printing process, leading to an increase in ΔHcand a decrease in Tg, particularly in PA12. This variation in microstructural properties resulted in a significant decrease in Young's modulus, indicating a reduction in the stiffness of the printed materials. The research suggests that an increase in crystalline material volume, resulting from polymer chain rearrangement during 3D printing, reduces the energy required for thermal softening and decreases the material's rigidity. © The Author(s) 2025