Three-dimensional printing of continuous-fiber composites by in-nozzle impregnation

We have developed a method for the three-dimensional (3D) printing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics based on fused-deposition modeling. The technique enables direct 3D fabrication without the use of molds and may become the standard next-generation composite fabrication methodology. A t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2016-03, Vol.6 (1), p.23058-23058, Article 23058
Main Authors: Matsuzaki, Ryosuke, Ueda, Masahito, Namiki, Masaki, Jeong, Tae-Kun, Asahara, Hirosuke, Horiguchi, Keisuke, Nakamura, Taishi, Todoroki, Akira, Hirano, Yoshiyasu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/166/988
639/301/1023/1025
639/301/1023/303
639/301/930/1032
Carbon fibers
Fabrication
Fibers
Humanities and Social Sciences
Mechanical properties
multidisciplinary
Polylactic acid
Polymers
Printing
Science
Tensile strength
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Summary:We have developed a method for the three-dimensional (3D) printing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics based on fused-deposition modeling. The technique enables direct 3D fabrication without the use of molds and may become the standard next-generation composite fabrication methodology. A thermoplastic filament and continuous fibers were separately supplied to the 3D printer and the fibers were impregnated with the filament within the heated nozzle of the printer immediately before printing. Polylactic acid was used as the matrix while carbon fibers, or twisted yarns of natural jute fibers, were used as the reinforcements. The thermoplastics reinforced with unidirectional jute fibers were examples of plant-sourced composites; those reinforced with unidirectional carbon fiber showed mechanical properties superior to those of both the jute-reinforced and unreinforced thermoplastics. Continuous fiber reinforcement improved the tensile strength of the printed composites relative to the values shown by conventional 3D-printed polymer-based composites.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep23058