ABSTRACT

Biodegradable materials have attracted much attention from researchers due to the pressing need to reduce enduring waste worldwide. Various 3D printed parts were designed and printed using polylastic acid (PLA) filament as feedstock. Various 3D printed electrical parts were designed and printed using polylactic Acid filament as feedstock. The parts were designed using Solid works and were printed using an FDM 3D printer. An experimental test was carried out on samples of the printed materials; Hardness, Differential scanning calorimetry, Tensile strength, Flexural strength, Density,Thermalgravimetric analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Ftir) were determined from the experiment. Heating effect on PLA plastics affects the mechanical properties of the material produce. The results gotten from the experiment were compared with that of the standard values of each parameters. This development will solve two major problems; plastic waste management and production of locally manufactured 3D printing feedstock (which is presently the greatest challenge of 3D printing in Nigeria). This innovation is particularly useful to manufacturing firms and will reduce spare parts importation. Scraping of machines/equipment due to non-availability of parts will also reduce considerably. Thus, facilitating the achievement of sustainable development goals with respect to industry, innovation and infrastructure.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page        -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           i

Declaration      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           ii

Certification    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           iii

Dedication      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           iv

Acknowledgement      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           v

Table of Content         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           vi

List of Tables  -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           ix

List of Figures -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           x

Abstract          -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           xi

CHAPTER ONE:     INTRODUCTION

1.1              Background of Study………………………………………………………………...……1

1.2              Statement of Problem …………..……………………………………………………....…3

1.3              Objective of Study ……………………………………………...…………………..…….3

1.4              Justification………………………………………………………………………………..4

CHAPTER TWO:    LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1       Overview of Plastics ………………………………………………………………….…. 5

2.1.1    Classification of Plastics ……………………………………………...…….…………… 5

2.1.2    Applications of Plastics ……………………………………………………….…………7

2.1.3    Plastic Recycling ………...…………………………...…….……………...…………….8

2.2       3d Printing/Additive Manufacturing (Am) …………………………………….……… 10

2.2.1    3D Printing Technologies ………………………….………………………………….  11

2.2.1.1 Stereolithography (SLA) ………………………….…………………………………… 11

2.2.1.2 Digital Light Processing (DLP) ……………………………….……………………… .13

2.2.1.3 Fused deposition modeling (FDM) ………………………………….………………… 15

2.2.1.4 Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) ……………………………….……………………… .16

2.2.1.5 Selective laser melting (SLM) ……………………………….………………………… 18

2.2.1.6 Electronic Beam Melting (EBM) ……………………………………………………… 19

2.2.1.7   Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) ……………………………………………..20

2.3 Studies Done So Far ……………………………………………………………….………. 23

CHAPTER THREE:                        MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Materials ………………………………………...………………………………………… 24

3.2 Design And Simulation Of The Electrical Component ………………….…………………24

3.3 Procedures For The Characterization Of The 3d Printed Components ……………………26

3.3.1    Determination of hardness ……………………………..………………………………26

3.3.2 Determination of differential scanning calorimetry………………………………………28

3.3.3    Determination of Tensile Strength …………...…………………………………..…… 29

3.3.4    Determination of Flexural Strength …………...…………………………………..……30

3.3.5 Determination of Density …………...……………………………………………....……31

3.3.6     Determination of Thermal Gravimetric Analysis …………………………………....31

3.3.7   Determination of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) …………………32

CHAPTER FOUR:  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Hardness Test ………………………………….……………………………...………… 34

4.2 Differential Scanning Calorimetry Test Result …….…………………………………… 35

4.3 Test For Tensile ………………………………………………………………………… 36

4.4 Flexural Test Result ………………………………………...…………………………… 37

4.5 Density Test Result …………………………………………….…………………………38

4.6 Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) Result …………………………………..………. 39

4.7 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Ftir) Result ………………………………… 40

4.8 Comparative Evaluation Result …………………………………………….…………….41

CHAPTER FIVE:    CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1       Conclusions ………………………………………………………………………….42

5.2       Recommendations …………………………………………………….…………… 42

REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………... 44

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1 Result of hardness test        -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -34

Table 4.2 Result of tensile test            -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -36

Table 4.3: Result of flexural test         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           - 37

Table 4.4: Result of density test         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -38

Table 4.5: TGA Curve Table               -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -39

Table 4.6: Comparative Evaluation Result     -           -           -           -           -           -           -41

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: Stereolithography Apparatus        -           -           -           -           -           -           -12

Figure 2.2: Digital Light Processing   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -14

Figure 2.3: Fused Deposition Modelling        -           -           -           -           -           -           -15

Figure 2.4: Selective Laser Sintering  -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -17

Figure 2.5: Electronic Beam Melting  -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -19

Figure 2.6: Laminated Object Manufacturing            -           -           -           -           -           -20

Figure 3.1 fan canopy -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -24

Figure 3.2 junction box           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -25

Figure 3.3 socket         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -25

Figure 3.4 lampholder -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -26

Figure 4.3 ftir spectra of pla   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -40