ASTM F3489-23

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3489 − 23
Standard Guide for
Additive Manufacturing of Polymers — Material Extrusion —
Recommendation for Material Handling and Evaluation of
Static Mechanical Properties
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3489; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This guide covers existing standards or variations of
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
existing standards that may be applicable to determine specific
D695 Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid
static mechanical properties of polymeric specimens fabricated
Plastics
with the material extrusion (MEX) additive manufacturing
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
(AM) process. The test methods covered within this document
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-
are recommendations supplied coming from the experience
als
previous material qualification programs have provided. Addi-
D3039 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Polymer Ma-
tional test methods may be considered as well depending when
trix Composite Materials
evaluating material performance for specific applications. Rec-
D5229/D5229M Test Method for Moisture Absorption Prop-
ommendations for material handling prior to testing and
erties and Equilibrium Conditioning of Polymer Matrix
characterization are included as they can greatly affect material
Composite Materials
properties. It is for the end user to determine if the recom-
D5379 Test Method for Shear Properties of Composite
mended tests adequately evaluate the material performance for
Materials by the V-Notched Beam Method
the intended application.
D5766 Test Method for Open-Hole Tensile Strength of
Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates
1.2 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
D5961 Test Method for Bearing Response of Polymer Ma-
as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in
trix Composite Laminates
this standard.
D6484 Test Method for Open-Hole Compressive Strength of
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D6641 Test Method for Compressive Properties of Polymer
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Matrix Composite Materials Using a Combined Loading
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- Compression (CLC) Test Fixture
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. D6742 Practice for Filled-Hole Tension and Compression
Testing of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
D7191 Test Method for Determination of Moisture in Plas-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
tics by Relative Humidity Sensor
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
F2971 Practice for Reporting Data for Test Specimens Pre-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
pared by Additive Manufacturing
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
2.2 ISO/ASTM Standards:
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
ISO/ASTM 52900 Additive manufacturing — General prin-
ciples — Terminology
ISO/ASTM 52921 Standard terminology for additive manu-
facturing — Coordinate systems and test methodologies
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F42 on Additive
Manufacturing Technologies and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
F42.01 on Test Methods. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published June 2023. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
F3489-23. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3489 − 23
3. Terminology 5.4 Filament Material Conditioning—Environment control
should be in place for both pre- and post-fabrication states
3.1 Definitions—Terminology relating to additive manufac-
(filament and fabricated specimens), as material performance
turing (AM) in Terminologies ISO/ASTM 52900 and ISO/
for both fabrication and testing mechanical performance can be
ASTM 52921 shall apply.
altered if environmental exposure occurs in either state. Testing
of polymer filament for moisture content before fabrication is
4. Significance and Use
recommended to follow Test Method D7191. Recommended
4.1 As noted in many of the standards in Section 2, there are
acceptable values may be defined per material manufacturer
multiple factors that may influence the reported properties,
recommendations. If material moisture content exceeds the
including material choice, material anisotropy, methods of
recommended passing limit, material drying should be required
material storage and preparation, porosity, methods of speci-
at a predetermined temperature and duration to reduce the
men storage and preparation, orientation and specimen build
material moisture content to a passing level. Temperature,
plate location during fabrication, testing environment, speci-
duration, and process for drying is specific to the material
men alignment and gripping during testing, testing speed, and
being used and it is commonly recommended to use a
testing temperature. These factors should be recorded accord-
temperature at least 14 °C (25 °F) below the material’s Tg
ing to Practice F2971 and the guidelines of the referenced
unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer. Moisture testing
standards. This guide is intended to inform users of best
should occur after the drying procedure to verify that the
practices for static mechanical testing of additive manufactured
material drying sufficiently reduced the material moisture
polymer specimens fabricated using material extrusion (MEX).
content before fabrication.
5.5 Specimen Material Conditioning—Post-fabrication
5. Material Handling Considerations
specimen conditioning also plays a significant role in physical
5.1 All material exposure conditions pre- and post-
and mechanical performance. Investigations of material perfor-
fabrication should be clearly defined and documented to
mance as a result of various specimen conditioning effects is a
minimize environmental effects on material properties.
typical area of interest for end users depending on the expected
application for the materials. Some standard specimen and
5.2 Inherent Material Properties—There is a large selection
testing conditions that are of interest in most cases include, but
of polymer materials available for MEX fabrication, each
are not limited to, room temperature dry (RTD), cold tempera-
material having their own inherent characteristics that can
ture dry (CTD), elevated temperature dry (ETD), and elevated
greatly affect both fabrication capability and performance after
temperature wet (ETW). To achieve a dry or wet (saturated)
fabrication. Filament materials are recommended to be stored
material state or both before mechanical testing it is recom-
in a controlled environment to mitigate effects of exposure to
mended to use Test Method D5229/D5229M to validate when
temperature, humidity, and UV exposure, among other expo-
a material has stabilized its moisture content via periodic
sures that may degrade performance of fabricated parts.
weight measurements. Test temperatures are specific to the
5.3 Two material characteristics that can significantly affect
material under investigation and should be determined by the
tested material properties include a material’s moisture absorp-
end user based on end-use application.
tion and thermal history. Hygroscopic materials are very
5.6 Specimen Handling—If available, follow specimen han-
susceptible to moisture absorption even when located in
dling conditions provided within each available ASTM test
ambient environments with moderate humidity. For this reason,
standard. In the absence of specified material handling
moisture content of materials under investigation shall be
conditions, appropriate methods can be used to minimize
controlled. Nylon is one such material type that readily absorbs
effects of ambient environment on conditioned specimens. One
moisture from the surrounding air and the rate of absorption is
potential way to accomplish this is to store specimens properly
increased in higher humidity environments and even more so
in between conditioning and testing. For wet conditioned
when submerged. Other materials such as PLA are much less
specimens, a small moist fabric towel should be placed in a
susceptible to moisture absorption and therefore require less
sealed bag with the specimens after the specimen has reached
monitoring regarding storage and filament moisture content
saturation from conditioning. The moist towel should not
during fabrication. Secondly, a material’s thermal history at
introduce excess moisture within the bag during specimen
both elevated and cold temperatures prior to fabrication can
storage prior to testing. The goal of this is to keep the specimen
significantly affect fabrication and mechanical performance. A
at a saturated steady state prior to testing. Similarly, dried
material’s glass transition temperature (Tg) is the point at
specimens should be placed in a sealed bag with a desiccant
which a material begins to change from a glassy to a rubbery
pack to maintain a dried specimen state. It is recommended that
state. It is important to avoid exposing filament materials to
specimens in a sealed bag be tested within two weeks from the
temperatures near its inherent Tg to minimize thermal cycling
end of conditioning or within 8 h if specimens are not stored in
effects on material properties. Some studies have shown that
the sealed bag environment.
extended exposure to elevated and cold temperatures before
fabrication can result in variation or degradation in mechanical
6. Fabrication Considerations
performance of fabricated specimens. Moisture absorption and
thermal history are not the only conditions that should be 6.1 Fabrication Orientation Overview—It is an inherent
controlled but each is known to be a major contributor to property within the MEX process that the same geometry
material performance variation. specimen fabricated in different orientations will experience
F3489 − 23
slightly different dimensional results for features. For example, 6.3 Process Controls Overview—Fabrication, post-
the radius of a Test Method D638 Type I specimen can be processing, and conditioning methods for process-sensitive
easily produced for a flat (XY) orientation, but that same radius materials shall be defined and held constant for a proper
when fabricated in the upright (XZ) orientation will be built characterization of a material dataset. Process considerations
using individual layers resulting in a stair step. Mechanical such as annealing post-fabrication or material conditioning
performance will vary between the different specimen orienta- before fabrication should be clearly identified within the
tions and the resultant strength will be a characteristic of manufacturer’s process specification to identify any variations
contour strength, raster (infill) strength, layer line adhesion, or observed in mechanical performance as a result of process
a combination of all. User considerations should include modifications. Additional data that shall be clearly defined and
evaluation of problematic fabrication orientations, specifically documented include build designs and job travelers that
the ZX (vertical) orientation, which primarily evaluates layer identify the specimen geometry and the number and locations
line adhesion. This orientation may require additional support of specimens being fabricated for each build along with part
structures/materials or design modifications in order to fabri- spacing and orientation within a fabrication. Specimen material
cate successfully. An additional consideration for specimen properties can be highly affected by variables including fabri-
orientation on the build plate includes the rotation of specimen cation speeds and temperatures including, but not limited to,
placement in the Z-Axis. Adjustment of this rotation will affect extruder travel velocity and acceleration within the build
the internal toolpath placement within the specimen geometry volume and nozzle, bed, and chamber heating set temperatures.
and therefore can affect mechanical properties. Minimization
6.4 Quality Inspections—Even with all processing controls
of artifacts within the specimen gauge section is important for
documented and held constant, variation between fabricated
proper testing and mechanical performance. Fig. 1 is a repre-
specimens is probable. With this in mind, evaluation of build
sentation of multiple build orientations for the same specimen.
quality using various inspection techniques will allow the user
6.2 Pre-Processing Overview—Because of the anisotropic to identify potential causes in variation of mechanical perfor-
mance. Inspection methods include, but are not limited to,
behavior observed for MEX in polymeric fabrications, addi-
external optical microscopy, nondestructive inspection (NDI)
tional information should be included in process specification
techniques such as X-ray computed tomography (CT), and
rep
...