Performance analysis of colored PLA products with a fused filament fabrication process

The objective of the present work is to study the influence of color additives used for the polylactic acid (PLA) filament on the final quality of fused filament fabrication (FFF) parts. The main processing parameters of FFF parts were evaluated, identifying the significant correlations between PLA properties and part performance, using a commercial FFF machine. The quality of the products was evaluated in terms of thermo-mechanical properties such as mechanical strength, principal material temperatures, and viscosity. These last properties were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the thermal measurements and a rotational rheometry (RHEO) for viscosity measurements. Cylindrical specimens were then produced for the compression test. The experimental activity and related testing of products are fully described, pointing out a significant difference in performance between parts made of different colored filaments.