Frontal polymerization-assisted 3D printing of short carbon fibers/dicyclopentadiene composites. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zimeng; Liu, Ruochen; Li, Wei; Liu, Yuchen; Pei, Zhijian; Qiu, Jingjing; Wang, Shiren
• Is Part Of: Journal of manufacturing processes. Volume 71(2021)
• Page Start: 753
• Page End: 762
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Frontal polymerization -- 3D printing -- Thermosetting composites -- Interlayer bonding; Production management -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Procestechnologie; Productietechniek; Production -- Gestion -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Fabrication -- Périodiques; Manufacturing processes; Production management -- Data processing; Periodicals; 670.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmapro.2021.10.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-6125

Abstract

Abstract: Discontinuous carbon fibers (d-CFs) with different surface modifications (sizing, carboxyl-grafting, and norbornene-grafting) were separately dispersed in dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) resins, and the resultant d-CF/DCPD mixtures demonstrated shear-thinning characteristics. Subsequently, d-CF/DCPD mixtures were printed and further transformed into crosslinked polymers through self-propagating frontal polymerization. The norbornene groups grafted on the d-CF surfaces also reacted with the DCPD monomers during the fontal polymerization-synchronized printing, resulting in covalent connections between d-CFs and DCPD resins. The tensile strength of as-printed norbornene-grafting d-CFs/DCPD composites was around 43.3 MPa, which was 170% higher than that of as-printed neat DCPD resin and 15% higher than that of the sized d-CFs/DCPD composites. The toughness of as-printed norbornene-grafting d-CFs/DCPD composites was ~14 MPa, ~33.3% higher than that of the sized d-CF/DCPD composites. More importantly, the presence of norbornene-grafted d-CFs significantly strengthened the bonding strength of printed layers since d-CFs bridged two neighbored layers. The bonding strength of printed layers was enhanced by ~255% with addition of 3 wt% norbornene-grafting d-CFs compared to the neat resin. This method provides a new way to improve the interlayer bonding in energy-efficient 3D printing thermosetting composites.