3D printing: Overview of ABS evolvement

Rapid prototyping is highly applied to polymer processing since it exhibits various advantages compared to other conventional polymer processing techniques such as injection molding, blow molding and etc. One of the most common rapid prototyping technique is fused deposition modelling (FDM) which work based on material extrusion mechanism. FDM referred to be the most common in various applications because it doesn’t require complicated steps and very cost saving. Among the bunch of applications of FDM, one of the polymer that has a major association with this technique is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). ABS is a thermoplastic which become liquefied when heating and harden when cooled down. ABS incorporated with FDM in various method to extend its uses into more areas. Thus, the objective of this is to review the FDM process in detail which includes theoretical aspect of FDM, working mechanism of FDM process, printing parameters and applications of FDM. Addition to that, this paper also reviews the theory of ABS, composites of ABS in use and researched before and their preparation techniques for FDM are also included. Characterisation techniques and their respective properties of fused deposition modelled ABS is also part of this review paper.