Procesamiento y caracterización mecánica de la mezcla ASA/PET con agentes compatibilizantes para fabricación aditiva de gran formato

This work focuses on the processing and evaluation of acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA)/poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends, incorporating (PET) copolymeric compatibilizers including in different compositions, poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS), in both radial and linear forms, and poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-butylene-b-styrene) (SEBS), with a linear structure. The objective is to develop a high-performance polymer suitable for large-format additive manufacturing. Different compositions were selected and justified to achieve this, from which specimens were fabricated using additive manufacturing. These specimens were mechanically tested to assess their performance. The thermal properties of the compatibilizing agents were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to understand their effect on the polymer blends. Additionally, processing parameters were optimized to obtain granules compatible with Fused Granular Fabrication (FGF) 3D printing, ensuring proper material flow and printability. The manufacturing conditions for producing FGF test specimens were also defined and justified. The tensile tests performed in the Z orientation highlight how the addition of radial and linear SBS, as well as SEBS, affects both strength and Young’s modulus. After conducting mechanical tests and analyzing the results, the study provides valuable insights into the mechanical behavior of ASA/PET blends, contributing to the development of materials suitable for large-scale additive manufacturing applications.