On the Influence of Acetone Vapor Bath Smoothing on the Fatigue Life of 3D Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

The influence of acetone vapor bath smoothing on the fatigue lives of 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene test specimens was investigated using a rotating bending cantilever beam test. The results show that the vapor bath treatment improved the fatigue life by a factor of two on average, but the variability in the specimen lifetime increased. Investigation of the fracture surface via optical and scanning electron microscopy reveals a complex fracture path with crack nucleation at multiple sites. Based on the observations from the study, suggestions are made to improve the fatigue lives of 3D printed ABS polymer components.