Thermo-Mechanical and Fatigue Behavior of 3D-Printed PA12 CF15 for Engineering Application

This study presents a detailed experimental investigation of the mechanical, fatigue, and dynamic properties of a 3D-printed PA12 CF15 composite at different temperatures. The mechanical properties determined in the temperature range from 23 °C to 120 °C were later implemented in numerical simulations to evaluate the suitability of the material for thermo-mechanical loading conditions. Quasi-static tensile test results revealed a decrease in elastic modulus, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength with increasing temperature. Fatigue testing demonstrated that increasing load levels lead to reduced durability and a lower maximum number of cycles to failure. Furthermore, elevated testing temperatures caused the composite to exhibit more pronounced plastic behavior, resulting in temperature-dependent fatigue performance. SEM analysis indicated that higher temperatures increase the plasticity of the composite, thereby reducing the reinforcing effect of carbon fibers. The mechanical characteristics obtained experimentally were incorporated into a finite element model, allowing a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of manufacturing an intake manifold from PA12 CF15 using additive manufacturing technology. The results of this study provide valuable data for the design and analysis of dynamically and thermally loaded engineering components produced from PA12 CF15 composites.