3D printing-assisted interphase engineering of polymer composites: Concept and feasibility

Abstract

Abstract. We introduced a general concept to create smart, (multi)functional interphases in polymer composites with layered reinforcements, making use of 3D printing. The concept can be adapted for both thermoplastic and thermoset matrix-based composites with either thermoplastic-or thermoset-enriched interphases. We showed feasibility using an example of a composite containing a thermoset matrix/thermoplastic interphase. Carbon fiber unidirectional reinforcing layers were patterned with poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) through 3D printing, then infiltrated with an amine-cured epoxy (EP). The corresponding composites were subjected to static and dynamic flexure tests. The PCL-rich interphase markedly improved the ductility in static tests without deteriorating the flexural properties. Its effect was marginal in Charpy impact tests, which can be explained with effects of specimen and PCL pattern sizes. The PCL-rich interphase ensured self-healing when triggered by heat treatment above the melting temperature of PCL.

Novel Poly(Caprolactone)/Epoxy Blends by Additive Manufacturing

“…Finally, since the healing efficiency of EP is practically 0% and the two phases are completely independent in the designed 3D structure, only PCL is considered able to repair during the healing procedure and so the final mechanical properties of the healed objects are only related to the PCL phase. Analogous results can be found in the work of Szebényi et al, where the curve after healing of an epoxy/carbon fibers/PCL system in a quasi-static three-point bending test was similar to that of the neat PCL, due to the fact that the reinforcing epoxy layers lost their mechanical efficiency, being fully fractured [54].…”

“…The most used polymers for FFF technology are acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyamides (especially Nylon 12), polycarbonate (PC), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) [53]. In a recent work of Karger-Kocsis et al, fused deposition modeling (FDM) was used to create 2D layered structure made of PCL rods that were patterned with unidirectional carbon fibers, and the resulting materials were then infiltrated with an amine-curable epoxy resin [54]. In this case, self-healing mechanism could be triggered by heat treatment above the melting temperature of the PCL phase.…”

Polymer/boehmite nanocomposites: A review

“…The feasibility of the concept is supported by the fact that the BA nanoparticles, being nanoscale dispersed, are not filtered off by the reinforcement during resin infusion. Various techniques can be adapted to incorporate BA into the interphase, such as direct spraying onto the reinforcement surface, interleaving the reinforcement with a thermoplastic films containing BA, fuse deposition of a thermoplastic/BA nanocomposite (a version of 3D printing), where the thermoplastic serves as a provisional “carrier material” before curing, being partly or fully soluble in the resin …”

Differential thermal analysis of the antibacterial effect of PLA-based materials planned for 3D printing

“…Recently, manufacturing technique is useful to create physical models for different medical and pharmacological application based on three-dimensional (3D) computed data [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. All these applications strongly rely on material properties such as mechanical and thermal characteristics, biocompatibility, and in the last years, the antibacterial capability became important factor because of the undesirable infections.…”