3.2 Results

The following pictures will show the results of the test with before and after comparison.
In conclusion this test allowed us to select better performing materials which were ASA, HT-PLA and PP. However ASA is not feasible to use in additive manufacturing for this project because of costs and high temperatures needed for extruding the material (250°C). HT-PLA with wood fiber was well performing under heating but it was not a suitable material for AM because of the fibers themselves were causing layer delamination; therefore one possible solution would be to employ HT-PLA without fibers. PP was becoming yellowish which is a risk for a material that have to stay almost 1 year exposed to large amount of high UV rays, it would be possibile to use this material if, for instance, applying an UV resistant coating.
Further tests will be conducted once the main material will be selected.