Fabrication of Polylactide/Carbon Nanopowder Filament using Melt Extrusion and Filament Characterization for 3D Printing

Abstract

In this study, less expensive mesoporous nano carbon (NC) infused in polylactide (PLA) thermoplastic filaments were fabricated to improve the electrical properties and maintaining sufficient strength for 3D printing. Solution blending was used for PLA-NC nanocomposite fabrication and melt extrusion was employed to make cylindrical filaments. Mechanical and electrical properties of 1–20[Formula: see text]wt.% of NC-filaments were investigated and significant improvement of conductivity (3.76[Formula: see text]S/m) and sufficient yield strength (35[Formula: see text]MPa) were obtained. SEM images exhibited uniform dispersion of NC in polymer matrix and DSC results showed no significant changes in the glass transition temperature ([Formula: see text]) for all the compositions. Perspective uses of this filament are for fabrication of electrical wires in 3D printed robots, drones, prosthetics, orthotics and others.

Preparation and application practice of temperature self‐regulating flexible polymer electric heaters

“…CNTs play a special role in the mechanisms of stabilized heat release by ensuring the required levels of percolation of the conductive phase in the polymer matrix. [20] However, in many research articles [21][22][23] contradictory results are reported regarding the dependence of the percolation threshold on the CNTs aspect ratio. According to the excluded volume analysis, [21] the percolation threshold of suspension-containing carbon structures should decrease with an increase in their aspect ratio.…”

A Novel Manufacturing Concept of LCP Fiber-Reinforced GPET-Based Sandwich Structures with an FDM 3D-Printed Core

“…All popular materials intended for FDM printing are also available as filled or reinforced filaments. Most often, they are glass or carbon fibers [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], although there are also commercial materials based on nanoadditives such as carbon nanotubes or graphene [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Unfortunately, due to the characteristics of the printing process, the content of these additives rarely exceeds 20%.…”

Exploring the coating of 3D-printed insulating substrates with conductive composites: a simple, cheap and versatile strategy to prepare customized high-performance electrochemical sensors

“…However, the development of a new conductive lament is not a simple task, since an appropriate compromise between conductivity (to reach a minimal percolation threshold), printability, 1 homogeneity and exibility should be achieved. Moreover, this production requires an extruder machine for the conversion of the polymeric blend into a lament shape and the optimization of all steps (e.g., ratio among conductive particles, polymer and solvent to generate the composite powder/pellet and melting temperature and stirring rate of the extruder 24 ) is typically a time-consuming and expensive process. 26 Another alternative and less explored approach for the fabrication of sensors based on FDM additive manufacturing consists of the coating of insulating 3D-printed plastic surfaces with conductive materials.…”

“…Aiming for cheaper and “ready-to-use” filaments, few research groups have been developing bespoke filaments with higher carbon contents than the commercial ones. 3,23–25 For example, Foster et al 25 developed a composite filament of nanographite and polylactic acid (NG–PLA), in which the percentage of NG was varied in the range of 1 to 40 wt%. From this investigation, the optimized material presented 25 wt% of NG.…”

“…Moreover, this production requires an extruder machine for the conversion of the polymeric blend into a filament shape and the optimization of all steps ( e.g. , ratio among conductive particles, polymer and solvent to generate the composite powder/pellet and melting temperature and stirring rate of the extruder 24 ) is typically a time-consuming and expensive process. 26…”