Experimental investigation of seawater exposure and specimen geometry effects on the mechanical performance of 3D-printed ABS and ABS/CF

In this work, the effects of seawater exposure and specimen geometry on the mechanical performance of 3D-printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and carbon fiber-reinforced ABS (ABS/CF) were investigated. Enclosed 3D printers were used to avoid shrinkage and warping of ABS and ABS/CF. The standard specimen types in this research work were ASTM D638 type IV, ISO 527-2 type 1BA, and ASTM D3039 full-section specimens. The tensile tests were strain-controlled tests with a strain rate of 0.1 min^− 1. Firstly, the effects of the different specimen types on the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of unaged (as-printed) ABS and ABS/CF were analyzed. Secondly, the three types of specimens were immersed in seawater for 1, 2, and 3 weeks to evaluate moisture absorption and the degradation of the mechanical properties. The results indicated that the test specimen type had a statistically significant effect on the mechanical properties of ABS and ABS/CF, with the ISO 527 specimen exhibiting the lowest tensile strength and Young’s modulus. Moreover, all ABS and ABS/CF specimens showed moisture uptake of less than 1%. After three weeks of exposure, the ABS and ABS/CF retained over 90% of their mechanical properties. The good retention of mechanical properties and moisture resistance makes these materials suitable for short-term marine applications.