Mechanical properties of 3D-printed photopolymer composites modified with solid-wasted coffee bean powder

This article is conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of the 3D printed photopolymer composites modified with coffee bean particulate. The fracture behavior and mechanism are also studied. ABS photopolymer is selected as the matrix while coffee bean powder is used as a reinforcement particle. Mass fraction of 0.25 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, and 1 wt.% of coffee bean powder are added to the composites. Standard ASTM D638-14 for tensile properties of plastics is applied for tensile testing. From the study, it is observed that the ABS/CBP composites have greater ultimate tensile strength and Young’s Modulus as compared to the unfilled ABS matrix. When 0.25 wt.% of coffee bean powder is added to the composites, the ultimate tensile strength has increased by 89% while the Young’s Modulus has increased by 97.81% as compared to the unfilled ABS matrix. Nevertheless, the percentage of elongation at break and the modulus of the toughness of the ABS/CBP composites are lower than those of the unfilled ABS matrix. Based on the results of optical microscopy and SEM analysis, the ununiform distribution of coffee bean powder and the poor interfacial bonding between the coffee bean will affect the mechanical properties of ABS/CBP composites.