DESENVOLVIMENTO DE UM DISPOSITIVO PARA IMPREGNAÇÃO DE GRAFITE PARA MANUFATURA ADITIVA

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.8089112530059

• Palavras-chave: Manufatura Aditiva. Aditivos. Grafite. Propriedades mecânicas.

• Keywords: Additive Manufacturing. Additives. Graphite. Mechanical properties.

• Abstract: In an increasingly connected and innovation-driven industrial landscape, additive manufacturing (AM) has gained prominence as an emerging manufacturing methodology based on the successive addition of layers to build parts, enabling the production of complex geometries. Considered an entry-level technology for Industry 4.0 production systems, AM has been the subject of several studies, both in the improvement of existing processes and in the development of new manufacturing techniques through the addition of layers. Among the main techniques employed, fused deposition modeling (FDM) stands out, widely used due to its popularity and accessibility. In the context of this technology, manufacturing parameters have a major influence on the mechanical strength and aesthetic quality of the final products. The variety of materials used in AM is extensive, ranging from metals such as titanium, steel, and copper to polymers such as ABS, PLA, and PETG. This work aims to evaluate the mechanical behavior of parts manufactured with PLA filament impregnated with powdered graphite. To this end, a head adapted to Creality's Ender 3 equipment was developed to allow controlled insertion of the additive during the extrusion process. Tensile tests indicated an approximately 4.8% reduction in the strength of test specimens containing graphite compared to those made with PLA alone. Despite this slight decrease in mechanical performance, the results confirm the feasibility of graphite impregnation in the polymer matrix, enabling functional applications such as the production of self-lubricating bushings, among other solutions with higher tribological performance.