Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the most commonly used commercial technologies of materials extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM), used for obtaining 3D-printed parts using thermoplastic polymers. Notwithstanding the great variety of applications for FDM-printed objects, the choice of materials suitable for processing using AM technology is still limited, likely due to the lack of rapid screening procedures allowing for an efficient selection of processable polymer-based formulations. In this work, the rheological behavior of several 3D-printable, commercially available poly(lactic acid)-based filaments was accurately characterized. In particular, each step of a typical FDM process was addressed, from the melt flowability through the printing nozzle, to the interlayer adhesion in the post-deposition stage, evaluating the ability of the considered materials to fulfill the criteria for successful 3D printing using FDM technology. Furthermore, the rheological features of the investigated materials were related to their composition and microstructure. Although an exhaustive and accurate evaluation of the 3D printability of thermoplastics must also consider their thermal behavior, the methodology proposed in this work aimed to offer a useful tool for designing thermoplastic-based formulations that are able to ensure an appropriate rheological performance in obtaining 3D-printed parts with the desired geometry and final properties.
Keywords: 3D printing; FDM; PLA; additive manufacturing; polymer rheology.