A Modified Poly (Trimethylene Terephthalate) Used for Fused Deposition Modeling: Synthesis and Application

This paper presents the synthesis and application of a modified poly (trimethylene terephthalate) for Fused deposition modeling process. Five samples(S1-S5) of poly(trimethylene terephthalate-co-isophthalate-co-seacate) (PTTIS) were prepared by direct esterification and subsequent polycondensation of terephthalic acid (PTA), isophthalic acid(PIA) (nPTA/nPIA =7/3), sebacic acid (SA) and 1,3-propanediol (PDO) with different mole percent(αSA) of SA(αSA=0–4.8 mol%). The samples were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The mechanical properties tests showed that the tensile strength, tensile modulus, and flexural strength values of the samples increase with increasing in αSA up to 1 mol%, and then decreases, while the elongation at break value the opposite, and the izod impact strength value increases with increasing in αSA. The 3D printing materials which were prepared from S1-S5 were tested by a 3D printer to assess their suitability for Fused deposition modeling (FDM). The results showed that the PTTIS (nPTA/nPIA =7/3) containing 1.0–3.8 mol% SA are suitable for FDM, and their anisotropy are better than that of ABS.