Date of Award

12-2021

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Program

Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Major Professor

Damon A. Smith

Second Advisor

Paul J. Schilling

Third Advisor

Paul D. Herrington

Abstract

This thesis explores the incorporation of silver microparticle and submicron wire additives into thermoplastic filament feedstock for fused filament fabrication (FFF) to create multifunctional three-dimensional (3D) printable composites. The impact of silver microparticle and submicron wire additives on mechanical behavior along with antibacterial effect of the silver microparticle and submicron wire additives on printed objects were assessed.

Composite FFF filaments were fabricated by solution processing, granulation, and extrusion. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was conducted to measure the glass transition and melting point temperatures of the composite filaments for 3D printing. The effect of the additive addition on the thermal properties and tensile mechanical performance was measured. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the composite microstructure and fracture behavior. The reduction in the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was measured after exposure to FFF-printed composite test specimens with additive concentrations ranging from 0.0 to 10.0 weight percent.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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