Correlative study of aligned polymer thin films

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) or 3D filament printing is quickly becoming the technique of choice for customized manufacturing applications. The weakest point of a FFF part is the attachment point or weld between subsequent layers of extruded material. As new polymeric printing filament materials are developed, optimization of processing parameters to achieve the maximum weld quality must be determined. Reliable and comprehensive methods, that enable the characterization of the quality of these bonds or welds must be developed. It is well documented that the processing conditions of polymers strongly influence their morphology and, thus, the final properties of the part. Here, many techniques focus on either scattering or vibrational spectroscopy data. However, ideally the hierarchical structure of a crystalline polymer should be clarified from such various structural points of view, such as chain conformation, packing structure of chains in the crystal lattice, stacking structure of lamellae, and inner structure. The aim of the presented proposals at NCD-SWEET and MIRAS is to correlate diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy data measured on the same sample, at the same sample position of an oriented polymer thin film. Special interest will be on the change in morphology from oriented amorphous to crystalline phases and the corresponding changes in the scattering and spectroscopy data. Polymer alignment will be achieved by stretching a 3D filament printed polymer thin film sample in an inhouse built stretching stage. The tensile stage can be mounted at the end-stations of MIRAS and NCD-SWEET. In addition, the stretched samples can be clamped and thereby fixed by a special sample mount, which allows to measure the samples at the two beamlines, keeping a constant tensile force on the sample. As model material the PLA and PA will be used.