Investigating Microstructural and Mechanical Behavior of DLP-Printed Nickel Microparticle Composites

• Published in: Journal of composites science 2024-07, Vol.8 (7), p.247
• Main Authors: Susanto, Benny, Kumar, Vishnu Vijay, Sean, Leonard, Handayani, Murni, Triawan, Farid, Rahmayanti, Yosephin Dewiani, Ardianto, Haris, Muflikhun, Muhammad Akhsin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: additive manufacturing; Bonding strength; Chemical bonds; Composite materials; Corrosion; digital light processing; Hardness; Homogeneity; Light; Manufacturing; Mechanical properties; Microparticles; Molecular structure; Nanoparticles; Nickel; nickel microparticles; Particulate composites; Scanning electron microscopy; Sedimentation & deposition; Spectrophotometry; Spectrum analysis; Strain; Surface roughness; Tensile properties; Tensile strength; Turbidity; Ultimate tensile strength
• ISSN: 2504-477X; 2504-477X
• DOI: 10.3390/jcs8070247

The study investigates the fabrication and analysis of nickel microparticle-reinforced composites fabricated using the digital light processing (DLP) technique. A slurry is prepared by incorporating Ni-micro particles into a resin vat; it is thoroughly mixed to achieve homogeneity. Turbidity fluctuations are observed, initially peaking at 50% within the first two minutes of mixing and then stabilizing at 30% after 15–60 min. FTIR spectroscopy with varying Ni wt.% is performed to study the alterations in the composite material’s molecular structure and bonding environment. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed distinctive transmittance signatures at specific wavelengths, particularly within the visible light spectrum, with a notable peak at 532 nm. The effects of printing orientation in the X, Y, and Z axes were also studied. Mechanical properties were computed using tensile strength, surface roughness, and hardness. The results indicate substantial enhancements in the tensile properties, with notable increases of 75.5% in the ultimate tensile strength and 160% in the maximum strain. Minimal alterations in surface roughness and hardness suggest favorable printability. Microscopic examination revealed characteristic fracture patterns in the particulate composite at different values for the wt.% of nickel. The findings demonstrate the potential of DLP-fabricated Ni-reinforced composites for applications demanding enhanced mechanical performance while maintaining favorable printability, paving the way for further exploration in this domain.