Vol.25, No.2, 2025, pp. 227–235
https://doi.org/10.69644/ivk-2025-02-0227

IMPACT PROPERTIES OF FDM-GRADE PLA POLYMER RELATIVE TO INFILL DENSITY

Aleksa Milovanović1* , Milovan Paunić2 , Sergiu-Valentin Galațanu3 , Ivana Filipović1 , Miloš Milošević1 , Liviu Marșavina3 , Aleksandar Sedmak2

1) University of Belgrade, Innovation Centre of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade, SERBIA

A. Milovanović https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4668-8800 , *email: aleksa753@gmail.com , amilovanovic@mas.bg.ac.rs

I. Filipović https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7977-2980 ; M. Milošević https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2418-1032

2) University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade, SERBIA

M. Paunić https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4180-9813 ; A. Sedmak https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5438-1895

3) Department of Mechanics and Strength of Materials, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timișoara, ROMANIA

S.-V. Galațanu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7629-8662 ; L. Marșavina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5924-0821

 

Abstract

This research paper focuses on the influence of infill density on the impact properties of FDM-grade PLA material, i.e., how impact properties degrade with lower infill percentages. Most FDM machines' infill density can vary between 10 % and 100 %. Here, we include the full infill density spectrum with an increment of 10 % (10 specimen groups). The authors’ previous research findings show the benefits of smaller layer heights regarding repeatability of results and impact strength values. Thus, the employed layer thickness here is 0.1 mm, the lowest resolution for most FDM machines. Tests were conducted at room temperature and a controlled humidity level of around 50 % on the Charpy instrumented pendulum.

Keywords: • PLA • fused deposition modelling • infill density • Charpy impact test • instrumented pendulum

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