Strength evaluation of polymer ceramic composites: a comparative study between injection molding and fused filament fabrication techniques

Manufacturing industries have taken a leap with the coming of polymer composites and have been much broadly explored in this era. Composites with ceramic reinforcements to polymer matrices have proven potentially efficient in improving mechanical properties. This work explores the idea in implementing PLA-silicon nitride composites in manufacturing through conventional injection molding and modern 3D printing techniques. The study points to the better strength enhancement of tensile, flexural and impact test results in composites in the lower additive weight ratio of 95:05, substantiated by a detailed mechanical and morphological analysis of specimens in three different weight ratios. The specimens printed by 3D printing show a negligible variation in the strength parameters when compared to the injection-molded counterparts, which in effect extends the scope of further research in the area.