3D printing via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) has grown exponentially over the past decade as a response to the search for more sustainable manufacturing practices. However, FFF is limited in the number of polymer materials available for use and the inherent mechanical weaknesses of produced parts. One research area that has been used to address these concerns is the study and application of core-shell filaments. This method addresses individual materials' weaknesses by maximizing one material's strength with another's adhesive properties. To this end, we have conducted a study that focuses on the fabrication of polymer filament made from an amorphous shell and semi-crystalline core, such as ABS with Polypropylene and PETG with Polypropylene. We have foreseen that the manufactured filaments can be used in FFF printing. Our work has shown that core-shell filaments made from these polymers can be produced through an adapted bicomponent extrusion process and, furthermore, has shown success in their ability to be 3D printed. The printed samples underwent thermal and mechanical testing. It was established that the fabricated objects had shown similar and consistent results as those made from the premanufactured filament and traditionally manufactured objects.

Core-shell hybrid filaments for 3d printing via fused filament fabrication

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