Abstract
Additive manufacturing technology can help us to produce complex components/parts easily. It can be used to develop the parts with multi-material structures consisting of thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic, and ceramic fibers. This multi-material structure enhances the performance of lightweight polymer-based components. In this research work, poly-lactic acid (PLA) lattice (mono-material structure), PLA lattice filled with epoxy (bi-material structure), and PLA lattice incorporated with embedded milled glass fibers (MGFs) in an epoxy matrix (tri-material structure, TMS) were designed and developed by fused filament fabrication and solution casting methods. PLA lattice of 50% volume was fixed in all structures and 50% volume was filled with epoxy and MGFs. The dispersed MGFs in epoxy matrix were varied from 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 vol%. The mechanical properties were carried out by compression test, three-point bending test, and tensile test. The results revealed that 5 vol% of MGFs in the epoxy sample (TMS) exhibited improved mechanical performances compared to other samples. The cone-beam CT scan results confirmed the voids/porous free surfaces in the developed materials. The high-resolution scanning electron microscope microstructural evolutions in-terms of topography and fractured regions were also examined and reported.