Influence of Printing Orientation on Tensile Strength and Surface Characterization of a Steel-Powder-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite Manufactured by FDM Technology

This study presents results on a thermoplastic polymer composite containing 95 wt.% steel powder, processed into samples using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. Such a high filler loading exceeds the values commonly reported in the literature. Samples were printed with different build orientations (0° and 90°) to evaluate the influence of printing direction on the tensile behavior of the material. Tensile tests were conducted to determine the effect of printing orientation on the composite's strength. Additionally, surface structure analysis was performed using a contact profilometer, and wettability was evaluated by measuring the contact angle with a tensiometer. Dimensional measurements were also carried out using a digital caliper. The obtained results allowed determination of the relationship between printing orientation and the tensile and surface-related properties of the analyzed composite material.