Rapid Prototyping of Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Polymer Composites via Fused Deposition Modeling

Abstract

Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) filled with 6 wt.% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets was extruded in filaments and additively manufactured via fused deposition modeling (FDM). The electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE) in the frequency range between 8.2 and 12.4 GHz of the resulting 3D samples were assessed. For comparison purposes, compression molded samples of the same composition were investigated. Electrical conductivity of about 10−4 S·cm−1 and attenuations of the incident EM wave near 99.9% were achieved for the 3D components loaded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, almost similar to the correspondent compression molded samples. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of ABS composite filaments show that graphene nanoplatelets were oriented along the polymer flow whereas multi-walled carbon nanotubes were randomly distributed after the extrusion process. The electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of compression molded and FDM manufactured samples were compared and discussed in terms of type of fillers and processing parameters adopted in the FDM process, such as building directions and printing patterns. In view of the experimental findings, the role of the FDM processing parameters were found to play a major role in the development of components with enhanced EMI shielding efficiency.

Graphene–polyamide‐6 composite for additive manufacture of multifunctional electromagnetic interference shielding components

“…[2][3][4][5][6] Recently, the use of graphene, and other carbon-based fillers, as filler material in ME filaments have attracted great interest as they can be used to impart a range of enhancements beyond mechanical properties. For example, addition of graphene and carbon nanofibres can convert insulating materials like poly(acrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene) (ABS), [7][8][9] poly(lactic acid) (PLA), 10,11 polystyrene (PS), 12 and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) 13 into electrically conductive filaments.…”

Fused Filament Fabrication of Piezoresistive Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposites for Strain Monitoring

“…An selected composition (Dul et al, 2018b;Ecco et al, 2018) of 6 wt.% of CNT were first melt blended with ABS matrix through a Thermo-Haake Polylab Rheomix counter-rotating internal mixer at a temperature of 190 • C and rotor speed of 90 rpm for 15 min. The resulting material was granulated in a Piovan grinder Model RN 166 and grinded pieces with average size of 2.1 ± 0.6 mm) were used to feed a Thermo Haake PTW16 intermeshing corotating twin screw extruder (screw diameter = 16 mm; L/D ratio = 25; nozzle die diameter 1.80 mm).…”

“…In our previous works, highly conductive ABS/CNT nanocomposites with 6 wt.% of nanofillers were successfully 3Dprinted through FFF process and their extensive characterization including tensile, thermal and electrical properties was reported (Dul et al, 2018a). The composition percentage of 6 wt.% of CNT was properly selected in the tested range 2-8% wt.%, as an adequate compromise between the improvement of some properties after addition of the filler, and the correspondent reduction of composite processability, as evidenced by the critical decrease of melt flow (Dul et al, 2018b) and melt viscosity (Ecco et al, 2018). Electrical and magnetic properties of both graphene and CNT nanocomposites were studied and compared in view of EMI-SE applications (Ecco et al, 2018).…”

“…The composition percentage of 6 wt.% of CNT was properly selected in the tested range 2-8% wt.%, as an adequate compromise between the improvement of some properties after addition of the filler, and the correspondent reduction of composite processability, as evidenced by the critical decrease of melt flow (Dul et al, 2018b) and melt viscosity (Ecco et al, 2018). Electrical and magnetic properties of both graphene and CNT nanocomposites were studied and compared in view of EMI-SE applications (Ecco et al, 2018). Moreover their hybrid 6 wt.% nanocomposites with composition of graphene and CNT were also considered, in order to define suitable composites with relatively easy flowability for low CNT content, and adequate electrical and magnetic properties for high CNT content (Dul et al, 2020).…”

Influence of Manufacturing Parameters and Post Processing on the Electrical Conductivity of Extrusion-Based 3D Printed Nanocomposite Parts

“…Although the electrical conductivity obtained in 3D printed parts was lower than that of the filament prior to printing, the values were in the order of other reported parts manufactured by extrusion-based AM, as can be corroborated from data included in Table 4. It has been demonstrated that the electrical conductivity of parts obtained by extrusion-based AM is reduced at least one order of magnitude with respect to conventional methods as compression molding (CM) [36]. Another issue to consider is the anisotropy of the 3D printed parts, as there is preferential orientation of the electrically conductive nanoparticles when the composite pass through the nozzle tip.…”