Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Various Fiber Reinforced 3D Printed Composites

This research elucidated the mechanical attributes of Onyx and its reinforced composites, targeting tensile properties, surface roughness, and hardness. Tensile tests indicated that the carbon-reinforced composite outperformed others with a tensile strength of 44.970 MPa, with base Onyx showcasing considerable ductility at 80.17% elongation. Surface roughness evaluations, represented by Ra values, spotlighted the Onyx + Glass composite with the highest roughness of 7.613 µm, hinting at potential challenges in its processing or the inherent characteristics of glass fibers. On the hardness front, the Onyx + CF variant registered the highest average value of 38.5, emphasizing the reinforcing potency of carbon fibers in augmenting material resistance to indentation. Conversely, Kevlar-reinforced ONYX recorded 14.5, suggesting that while Kevlar contributes substantially to tensile strength, its effect on hardness is nuanced. Overall, this study underscores the multifaceted impact of various reinforcements on Onyx composites, offering pivotal insights for applications demanding specific mechanical characteristics.