#additive manufacturing #robots #crystallization kinetics

Analysis of crystallization kinetics in large-scale material extrusion process

Background:

Lightweight design has established itself as an essential part of component design and production in most industries. By applying lightweight design concepts, significant improvements in mechanical properties can be achieved while reducing the weight and cost of components. New manufacturing processes are continuously being developed to implement these concepts.

An outstanding example of this is additive manufacturing, which is considered the industrial revolution of the last decade. Thanks to its versatility, it enables the flexible production of complex component geometries. One of the best-known methods of additive manufacturing is material extrusion (MEX), which is used for small-, medium- and large-scale components. At the microstructural level, processes occur in large-scale 3D printing, especially with semi-crystalline thermoplastics, that can significantly affect the properties of the final product. These include, among others, the crystalline processes at the material level.

This study focuses on the visualization of the crystalline structures of the material used. A polarizing microscope (POM) will be used for visualization and a suitable method for sample preparation will be developed. The main goal is the optical analysis of the crystalline structures at different evaluation points in the generated product.

Problem definition:

Within the scope of this study work, the focus is on the concomitant analysis of the crystalline structures of components produced by the large-scale MEX process. The main objective is to develop a reliable and reproducible sample preparation method for the POM.

Molten samples serve as the starting point for the analysis, where specific crystallization processes can be targeted through targeted cooling rates. The knowledge gained is then to be used effectively to analyze the crystalline structures at various locations within a manufactured component.

The aim is to gain valuable information from this about the crystallization kinetics and to identify possible correlations.

Arbeitsumfang:

Familiarization with theory and literature research (e.g. additive manufacturing and crystallization kinetics),
Sample preparation with different cooling rates for the materials PA6 and PA6 wt%40 CF,
Development of a reproducible method for sample preparation,
Analysis of the crystalline structures of a manufactured component and
Obtaining conclusions and identification of correlations of the crystallization kinetics.

What we offer:	What we expect:
Ideal conditions for a theoretical and practice-oriented thesis, The availability of the necessary machines and materials for the creation and testing of the components, The necessary software for analysis and determination of the task and The best possible support during the processing time.	Technical degree, e.g. aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering or a comparable course of study, Experimental skills and enthusiasm for innovative manufacturing processes, Interest in challenging issues, as well as a high degree of initiative and team spirit, and Interest in the field of additive manufacturing and materials science.