Evaluation of Ionizing Radiation Effects on Polymeric Materials Fabricated By FDM 3D Printing.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the effects of ionizing radiation on polymeric materials commonly used in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing, evaluating structural stability, mechanical behavior, and potential microstructural changes following exposure to different irradiation doses. This study proposes a comparison of the properties of 3D-printed materials before and after irradiation, aiming to assess their suitability for the fabrication of prototypes and components applicable to radiotherapy-related contexts and medical devices
Methods
Specimens were fabricated using FDM 3D printing with commercially available polymer filaments, including polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), under controlled and reproducible printing parameters. The samples were subsequently subjected to gamma irradiation at absorbed doses of 1 kGy, 5 kGy, and 25 kGy. After irradiation, the materials were evaluated through physicomechanical characterization, focusing on structural integrity, dimensional stability, and mechanical performance, in order to identify radiation-induced changes.
Results
The polymeric materials are expected to maintain macroscopic structural integrity after exposure to the proposed radiation doses. Dose-dependent mechanical responses are anticipated, associated with the intrinsic characteristics of each polymer, such as molecular structure, degree of crystallinity, and susceptibility to radiation-induced chain alterations. Materials with lower thermal stability are expected to exhibit greater sensitivity at higher doses, whereas polymers widely used in technical applications may demonstrate relatively more stable mechanical behavior across the investigated dose range.
Conclusion
This preliminary study is expected to contribute to the understanding of the behavior of polymeric materials used in FDM 3D printing when subjected to ionizing radiation at dose ranges relevant to radiotherapy and sterilization processes. The comparative analysis of materials and irradiation levels is anticipated to provide reference parameters for the selection of polymers and 3D printing fabrication conditions suitable for the production of prototypes intended for applications in medical physics.