The demand for 3D printer technology and products, one of the additive manufacturing methods, is increasing daily in the sectoral and academic fields. Many types of polymer-based filaments are used in 3D printers, pure or filled/reinforcement. Utilizing these specialized materials in places suitable for their mechanical and thermal properties will help efficiently use resources. Using 3D printers, it is possible to manufacture products that provide thermal insulation or good heat conduction in heating and cooling areas. Especially due to the energy requirements for heating and cooling, it is very important to know the thermal performance of materials to ensure and maintain energy efficiency. This study experimentally investigated the mechanical properties and heat conduction coefficients of 3D printed parts. The experiments were conducted with seven different filament materials (PLA, PLA+, PLA-CF, PLA Wood, Tough PLA, ABS+, TPU) and three layer thicknesses (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mm). Samples for tensile testing, hardness, and thermal conductivity coefficient measurements were produced, and measurements were performed. In the experiments, the highest tensile strength was obtained in PLA-CF with 0.3 mm layer thickness, and the lowest tensile strength was obtained in PLA Wood with 0.3 mm layer thickness. Tensile strength decreased with an increasing layer thickness in PLA, PLA Wood, ABS+, and TPU, while it increased in PLA-CF. The highest tensile strength of PLA+ was determined to be 0.2 mm and 0.1 mm layer thickness in Tough PLA. Hardness results showed minimal change in hardness values with increasing layer thickness. The thermal conductivity values of the samples varied according to the additives and layer thicknesses. The highest thermal conductivity increase was measured in PLA-CF with 11.84%, and the lowest thermal conductivity decrease was measured in Tough PLA with 9.44%.

In the industry sector, it is very common to have different types of dissimilar materials on the same construction rather than products made from a single type of material. Traditional methods (welding, mechanical fastening, and adhesive bonding) and hybrid techniques (friction stir welding, weld bonding, and laser welding) are used in the assembly or joining of these materials. However, while joining similar types of materials is relatively easy, the process becomes more challenging when joining dissimilar materials due to the structure and properties of the materials involved. In recent years, additive manufacturing and 3D printing have revolutionized the manufacturing landscape and have provided great opportunities for the production of polymer-based multi-materials. However, developments in the joining of multi-material parts are limited, and their limits are not yet clear. This study focuses on the joining of 3D-printed products made from PLA-based multiple materials (PLA and PLA Wood) using friction stir welding. Single-material and multi-material parts (with 100% infill ratio and three different combinations of 50% PLA/50% PLA Wood) were welded at a feed rate of 20 mm/min and three different tool rotational speeds (1750, 2000, and 2250 rpm). Tensile and bending tests were conducted on the welded samples, and temperature measurements were taken. The fractured surfaces of the samples were examined to perform a damage analysis. It is determined that the weld strength of multi-materials changes depending on the combination of the material (material design). For multi-materials, a welding efficiency of 74.3% was achieved for tensile strength and 142.68% for bending load.

In recent years, research on ultra-fine grain materials has gained attention. While attempts have been made to improve the properties of the material, it has also become increasingly important to decrease the costs. Studies on improving material properties have revealed new production methods or have required the revision of existing production methods. In this direction, severe plastic deformation methods have come to the fore as a good alternative, and by improving the methods with new variations, materials with grain sizes below 1 µm have been obtained. In addition, this method positively affects the mechanical properties of the material. In this study, the Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) method, one of the severe plastic deformation methods, which has attracted great attention among researchers, was examined and the development stages of the method were investigated according to recent studies. The effective parameters in the method were examined and the effects of these parameters on the grain structure and mechanical properties of the material were discussed. Channel shapes, which are open to innovation and increase the efficiency of the ECAP method, were kept in the foreground among the prominent parameters in the ECAP process, and the results of the design changes made with new variations were examined.