Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM process

This study investigates the mechanical and surface properties of Kevlar-reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) composites fabricated via the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process, with the goal of enhancing material performance for advanced engineering applicati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Narayan Chandra Ray, Rotan Kumar Saha, Md Easin Mollah, Shaikh Rakib, Yusuf Ali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Hybrid Advances
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773207X25001344
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850131047026524160
author Narayan Chandra Ray
Rotan Kumar Saha
Md Easin Mollah
Shaikh Rakib
Yusuf Ali
author_facet Narayan Chandra Ray
Rotan Kumar Saha
Md Easin Mollah
Shaikh Rakib
Yusuf Ali
author_sort Narayan Chandra Ray
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the mechanical and surface properties of Kevlar-reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) composites fabricated via the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process, with the goal of enhancing material performance for advanced engineering applications. Various Kevlar powder concentrations were integrated into the polymer matrix, and the composites were evaluated through tensile, flexural, toughness, hardness, and surface roughness tests. The results demonstrated that Kevlar reinforcement significantly enhanced tensile strength and toughness by 32.55 % and 9.24 %, respectively, while hardness improved by 8.98 %, contributing to greater wear resistance. Additionally, surface roughness analysis revealed that pure PLA and ABS exhibited the smoothest surface finishes; however, the S3 (95 % ABS + 5 % Kevlar powder) sample, achieved the most favorable balance between mechanical performance and surface quality, making it the optimal formulation among the tested specimens. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed uniform Kevlar dispersion, leading to better structural integrity and reduced defect formation. Surface topography analysis showed that the S3 composite exhibited the lowest mean surface height (0.5373 nm) and the largest mean particle area (44.74 μm2), suggesting a well-distributed reinforcement phase. However, S4 (90 % ABS+10 % Kevlar powder) sample displayed a significantly higher mean surface height (230.1 nm) and a reduced mean particle area (11.07 μm2), indicating increased surface irregularities and imperfections. These findings highlight the potential of Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites for lightweight, high-strength applications in the automotive, aerospace, and protective equipment sectors.
format Article
id doaj-art-7d2869cc341d432687660d6c7269baed
institution OA Journals
issn 2773-207X
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Hybrid Advances
spelling doaj-art-7d2869cc341d432687660d6c7269baed2025-08-20T02:32:31ZengElsevierHybrid Advances2773-207X2025-12-011110051010.1016/j.hybadv.2025.100510Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM processNarayan Chandra Ray0Rotan Kumar Saha1Md Easin Mollah2Shaikh Rakib3Yusuf Ali4Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur, BangladeshDepartment of Industrial and Production Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur, BangladeshDepartment of Industrial and Production Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur, BangladeshDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Dhaka, BangladeshThis study investigates the mechanical and surface properties of Kevlar-reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) composites fabricated via the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process, with the goal of enhancing material performance for advanced engineering applications. Various Kevlar powder concentrations were integrated into the polymer matrix, and the composites were evaluated through tensile, flexural, toughness, hardness, and surface roughness tests. The results demonstrated that Kevlar reinforcement significantly enhanced tensile strength and toughness by 32.55 % and 9.24 %, respectively, while hardness improved by 8.98 %, contributing to greater wear resistance. Additionally, surface roughness analysis revealed that pure PLA and ABS exhibited the smoothest surface finishes; however, the S3 (95 % ABS + 5 % Kevlar powder) sample, achieved the most favorable balance between mechanical performance and surface quality, making it the optimal formulation among the tested specimens. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed uniform Kevlar dispersion, leading to better structural integrity and reduced defect formation. Surface topography analysis showed that the S3 composite exhibited the lowest mean surface height (0.5373 nm) and the largest mean particle area (44.74 μm2), suggesting a well-distributed reinforcement phase. However, S4 (90 % ABS+10 % Kevlar powder) sample displayed a significantly higher mean surface height (230.1 nm) and a reduced mean particle area (11.07 μm2), indicating increased surface irregularities and imperfections. These findings highlight the potential of Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites for lightweight, high-strength applications in the automotive, aerospace, and protective equipment sectors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773207X250013443D printingMechanical and surface propertiesKevlar powderReinforced compositesFused deposition modeling
spellingShingle Narayan Chandra Ray
Rotan Kumar Saha
Md Easin Mollah
Shaikh Rakib
Yusuf Ali
Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM process
Hybrid Advances
3D printing
Mechanical and surface properties
Kevlar powder
Reinforced composites
Fused deposition modeling
title Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM process
title_full Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM process
title_fullStr Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM process
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM process
title_short Enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3D-Printed Kevlar-reinforced ABS/PLA composites through FDM process
title_sort enhancing mechanical and surface properties of 3d printed kevlar reinforced abs pla composites through fdm process
topic 3D printing
Mechanical and surface properties
Kevlar powder
Reinforced composites
Fused deposition modeling
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773207X25001344
work_keys_str_mv AT narayanchandraray enhancingmechanicalandsurfacepropertiesof3dprintedkevlarreinforcedabsplacompositesthroughfdmprocess
AT rotankumarsaha enhancingmechanicalandsurfacepropertiesof3dprintedkevlarreinforcedabsplacompositesthroughfdmprocess
AT mdeasinmollah enhancingmechanicalandsurfacepropertiesof3dprintedkevlarreinforcedabsplacompositesthroughfdmprocess
AT shaikhrakib enhancingmechanicalandsurfacepropertiesof3dprintedkevlarreinforcedabsplacompositesthroughfdmprocess
AT yusufali enhancingmechanicalandsurfacepropertiesof3dprintedkevlarreinforcedabsplacompositesthroughfdmprocess