Experimental analysis of extrusion-based additive manufacturing process of bio-composite NiTi alloy

In this study, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to explore the material extrusion process of NiTi shape-memory alloy-based bio-composite polymeric matrix. Polylactic acid PLA+ Stearic Acid polymeric matrix are performed in order to develop an environmentally friendly process for manufacturing feedstocks with 75wt% nickel-titanium powders for employed in the 3D printing process. The additive manufacturing process based on the extrusion of materials will be studied at all stages (feedstock manufacturing with nickel-titanium powders, 3D printing of bio-composite green part, thermal debinding, and densification by solid-state diffusion) using experimental approaches, analytical approaches to predict printability index and thermo-physical analyses for the formulation of NiTi and biocomposite binders. Printing parameters were optimized by analysing the microstructure, rheological, mechanical properties of feedstock and 3D printed parts. Static mechanical tests will be performed in association with numerical modelling to study the evolution of damage for fully densified SMA specimens in order to describe the ductile failure of 3D printed specimens. Micromechanical phenomenological constitutive models are used in Finite Element software and which can account for the damage localization, initiation and damage growth based on continuum damage mechanics. The results of this study can be used to optimize the extrusion process parameters for different materials and can be helpful for researchers and industrialists to further explore and develop sustainable and eco-friendly materials.