Electrical properties of 3D printed continuous carbon fibre composites made using the FDM process. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galos, Joel; Hu, Yiwei; Ravindran, Anil R.; Ladani, Raj B.; Mouritz, Adrian P.
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 151(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: A: Carbon fibre -- B: Electrical properties -- E: 3D printing -- Fused deposition modelling (FDM); Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2021.106661
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

Abstract: Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing process for the 3D printing of continuous fibre-thermoplastic composite laminates. The electrical conductivity of continuous carbon fibre (CF)-nylon filaments and laminates printed with a Markforged MarkTwo® FDM machine is experimentally investigated. The axial electrical conductivity of single filaments measured before, during and following the FDM process reveal a large reduction (∼40%) due mostly to breakage of carbon fibres. The electrical conductivity of 3D printed laminates made by the layer-by-layer deposition of the single filaments were determined in the longitudinal, transverse and through-thickness directions, and compared to the electrical properties of a hot moulded composite with a near-equivalent carbon fibre content. The longitudinal conductivity of the 3D printed laminate was only ∼50% that of the hot moulded composite, and this was due mostly to fibre breakages caused by the FDM process. However, the transverse and through-thickness electrical conductivities of the 3D printed laminate were higher (∼13 times and ∼3 times, respectively) than the hot moulded composite due to higher fibre waviness causing increased fibre-to-fibre contact which aids the flow of electrical current in these two directions.