Journal of Jilin University(Engineering and Technology Edition) ›› 2025, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (7): 2180-2192.doi: 10.13229/j.cnki.jdxbgxb.20231144

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Rheological property of composite filament in metal fused filament fabrication process

Shi-jie JIANG1,2(),Shu-guang LI1,Zi-zhao XU1,Fei WANG1   

  1. 1.School of Mechanical Engineering & Automation,Northeastern University,Shenyang 110819,China
    2.Key Laboratory of Dynamics Reliability of Mechanical Equipment of Liaoning Province,Northeastern University,Shenyang 110819,China
  • Received:2023-10-23 Online:2025-07-01 Published:2025-09-12

Abstract:

Concerning the rheological problems affecting the quality of composite filament in metal fused filament fabrication, Firstly, self-made three types of 17-4PH stainless steel powder/polymer composite filaments with different high filling rate were studied in this paper, rapid prototyping equipment was used to conduct molding research on green samples, and the formability conditions of the composite filaments were canalized. Secondly, the pressure drop of the molten composite filament with different metal powder filling ratio during the shaping process was measured by the self-constructed experimental platform, and the test results of the relevant rheological properties were analyzed. Thirdly, an rheological property model of the molten material was established, and the theoretical analysis on the corresponding characteristic parameters was completed. Through the comparison between the theoretical and experimental results, the correctness of the theoretical model was verified, and the mechanism of the rheological properties of molten materlals were elucidated. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out on the analytical model to investigate the influence of processing parameters on rheological property. The results show that the self-made composite filament can be used to form good-quality green samples; the rheological property parameters of the molten material gradually increase with the increasing filling ratio of the metal powder; the theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement, validating the correctness of the analytical model; the nozzle diameter has the most significant effect on the melt flow behavior of the molten material in the discussed parameter ranges, followed by the building speed, while the effect of the molten temperature is relatively weak.

Key words: mechanical engineering, metal fused filament fabrication, 17-4PH stainless steel/polymer composite filament, rheological property, analytical model

CLC Number: 

  • TH145.9

Fig.1

Particle size distribution of 17-4PH stainless steel powder"

Table 1

Particle properties of 17-4PH stainless steel powder"

D10D50D90
17.41730.66352.869

Fig.2

MFFF green samples"

Table 2

Setting of process parameters"

过程参数数值
熔融温度/℃240
成型速度/(mm·s-110
层厚/mm0.25
床温/℃90
喷嘴直径/mm0.4
填充比例/%100
填充方式直线填充

Fig.3

Static experiments on green sample"

Table 3

Statics experiments process parameters"

实验名称实验标准加载速度/(mm·min-1夹持力/MPa实验次数
拉伸实验ISO527—4:2023525
压缩实验ASTM—69515
弯曲实验ISO178—200125

Fig.4

Molten material rheological property test system"

Fig.5

Voltage-pressure transformation curve"

Fig.6

Schematic of nozzle geometry"

Table 4

Interpretation of hot melt nozzle symbols"

符号释义数值
D1/mm区域Ⅰ处的直径1.75
D2/mm区域Ⅲ处的直径0.4
L1/mm区域Ⅰ处的长度10
L2/mm区域Ⅲ处的长度0.6
θ/(°)喷嘴的收缩角60

Fig.7

Nozzle region Ⅰ geometry and internal fluid flow schematic"

Fig.8

Shear stress distribution in nozzle region Ⅰ"

Fig.9

Self-made 17-4PH stainless steel powder/polymer composite filaments"

Fig.10

Self-made composite filament shaped green samples"

Table 5

Static experimental results of green samples with different 17-4PH stainless steel powder filling ratio"

金属粉末

体积填充率/%

拉伸实验压缩实验弯曲实验
平均最大拉伸力/N平均拉伸强度/MPa

平均拉

伸模量/MPa

平均断裂应变/%

平均最大

压缩力/N

平均压缩强度/MPa平均压缩模量/MPa平均最大弯曲力/N平均弯曲强度/MPa平均弯曲模量/MPa平均断裂应变/%
40359.59.0530.34.016 853.354.1533.826.716.1601.22.79
45351.98.8615.23.305 421.142.8628.724.514.7746.32.01
50332.88.3751.12.164 171.632.9725.420.312.2905.41.48

Fig.11

Static properties of green samples with different 17-4PH stainless steel powder filling rates"

Fig.12

Apparent viscosity versus shear rate of filaments with different metal powder filling ratio"

Table 6

Consistency coefficients and non-Newtonian indices of filaments with different metal powder filling ratio"

体积填充率/%Kn
40730.60.533 4
451 2250.510 2
502 0970.496 8

Fig.13

Theoretical and experimental results of rheological property parameters of molten composite filaments with different metal powder filling ratio"

Table 7

Comparison of theoretical and experimental results of rheological property parameters of molten composite filaments with different metal powder filling ratio"

体积填充率/%参数理论预测值实验测试值相对误差/%
40压降/kPa398.01428.727.16
剪切应力/kPa13.6714.717.07
表观黏度/(Pa·s)56.0960.447.19
45压降/kPa598.83650.157.89
剪切应力/kPa20.3622.127.96
表观黏度/(Pa·s)82.0989.228.00
50压降/kPa963.231 048.108.10
剪切应力/kPa32.5435.388.03
表观黏度/(Pa·s)129.83141.017.93

Table 8

Model sensitivity test parameters"

参数值1值2值3
喷嘴直径/mm0.4(默认)0.60.8
熔融温度/℃240(默认)250260
成型速度/(mm·s-110(默认)1520

Fig.14

Effect of nozzle diameter on rheological property parameters of molten materials with different metal powder filling ratio"

Table 9

Results of effect of nozzle diameter on rheological property parameters of molten materials for different metal powder filling ratio"

体积填充率/%参数喷嘴直径/mm
0.4(默认值)0.60.8
40压降/kPa398.01161.2192.78
增幅/%-59.49-76.69
剪切应力/kPa13.677.144.51
增幅/%-47.77-67.00
表观黏度/(Pa·s)56.0999.93147.99
增幅/%78.16163.84
45压降/kPa598.83250.98147.83
增幅/%-58.09-75.32
剪切应力/kPa20.3610.957.05
增幅/%-46.22-65.37
表观黏度/(Pa·s)82.09148.95227.31
增幅/%81.45176.9
50压降/kPa963.23411.76245.75
增幅/%-58.25-74.49
剪切应力/kPa32.5417.7811.58
增幅/%-45.36-64.41
表观黏度/(Pa·s)129.83239.45369.67
增幅/%84.43184.73

Fig.15

Effect of molten temperature on rheological property parameters of molten materials with different metal powder filling ratio"

Table 10

Effect of molten temperature on rheological property parameters of molten materials for different metal powder filling ratio"

体积填充率/%参数熔融温度/℃
240(默认值)250260
40压降/kPa398.01397.01396.05
增幅/%-0.25-0.49
剪切应力/kPa13.6713.6413.60
增幅/%-0.22-0.51
表观黏度/(Pa·s)56.0955.9455.81
增幅/%-0.27-0.5
45压降/kPa598.83597.33595.88
增幅/%-0.25-0.49
剪切应力/kPa20.3620.3120.26
增幅/%-0.25-0.49
表观黏度/(Pa·s)82.0981.8881.69
增幅/%-0.26-0.49
50压降/kPa963.23960.81958.49
增幅/%-0.25-0.49
剪切应力/kPa32.5432.4632.38
增幅 /%-0.25-0.49
表观黏度/(Pa·s)129.83129.51129.20
增幅/%-0.25-0.49

Fig.16

Effect of building speed on rheological property parameters of molten materials with different metal powder filling ratio"

Table 11

Effect of building speed on rheological property parameters of molten materials for different metal powder filling ratio"

体积填充率/%参数成型速度/(mm·s-1
10(默认值)1520
40压降/kPa398.01495.35577.50
增幅/%24.4645.1
剪切应力/kPa13.6717.0119.84
增幅/%24.4345.14
表观黏度/(Pa·s)56.0946.5340.69
增幅/%-17.04-27.46
45压降/kPa598.83738.22854.93
增幅/%23.2842.77
剪切应力/kPa20.3625.1029.07
增幅/%23.2842.78
表观黏度/(Pa·s)82.0967.4758.59
增幅/%-17.81-28.63
50压降/kPa963.231 180.901 362.40
增幅/%22.6041.45
剪切应力/kPa32.5439.9046.03
增幅/%22.6241.46
表观黏度/(Pa·s)129.83106.1291.82
增幅/%-18.26-29.28
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