Tensile properties of thermoplastic materials produced by FDM: PLA+, TPU E95A, and TPU 60D CFF

This study examines the tensile properties of thermoplastic components manufactured using fused deposition modeling (FDM). Experimental tests were carried out on samples printed from three thermoplastic materials: polylactic acid (PLA+), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU E95A), and carbon-filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU 60D CFF). Fifteen samples were tested using an electromechanical universal testing machine (WDW-100E, China) to determine their strength, ductility, and elasticity. The results show that samples printed from different thermoplastics exhibit a wide range of tensile properties and distinct behavior under maximum loads reaching up to 1.39 kN. To optimize the performance of components made from the studied plastics, recommendations for adjusting printing parameters were developed, along with guidance for their use in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, medicine, and related fields. The experimental data are summarized in a comparative table, which shows that print orientation and infill structure are critical parameters. Depositing layers in the plane of the build platform provides tensile strengths of up to 60 MPa, while printing in the perpendicular orientation significantly reduces this value. Therefore, part orientation should be selected according to the anticipated direction of service loads. The results are directly applicable to industries such as mechanical and automotive engineering and shipbuilding, where high mechanical loads demand improved durability, reliability, and production efficiency.