Polyamide 12/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube and Carbon Black Nanocomposites Manufactured by 3D Printing Fused Filament Fabrication: A Comparison of the Electrical, Thermoelectric, and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

In this study, nanocomposites with polyamide 12 (PA12) as the polymer matrix and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon black (CB) at different loadings (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 wt.%) as fillers, were produced in 3D printing filament form by melt mixing extrusion process. The filament was then used to build specimens with the fused filament fabrication (FFF) three-dimensional (3D) printing process. The aim was to produce by FFF 3D printing, electrically conductive and thermoelectric functional specimens with enhanced mechanical properties. All nanocomposites’ samples were electrically conductive at filler loadings above the electrical percolation threshold. The highest thermoelectric performance was obtained for the PA12/CNT nanocomposite at 10.0 wt.%. The static tensile and flexural mechanical properties, as well as the Charpy’s impact and Vickers microhardness, were determined. The highest improvement in mechanical properties was observed for the PA12/CNT nanocomposites at 5.0 wt.% filler loading. The fracture mechanisms were identified by fractographic analyses of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images acquired from fractured surfaces of tensile tested specimens. The nanocomposites produced could find a variety of applications such as; 3D-printed organic thermoelectric materials for plausible large-scale thermal energy harvesting applications, resistors for flexible circuitry, and piezoresistive sensors for strain sensing.

Investigation of the Biocidal Performance of Multi-Functional Resin/Copper Nanocomposites with Superior Mechanical Response in SLA 3D Printing

“…The worldwide 3D printing community has exhibited the forward momentum of AM by reducing the deficits, and in many cases, eliminating them [ 32 , 33 ]. Sufficient case studies have been presented regarding the manufacturing of face shields and respiratory components during this period [ 34 , 35 ], initiating a potential for further 3D printing implementations in the medical sector [ 11 , 36 ].…”

Development and Optimization of Medical-Grade Multi-Functional Polyamide 12-Cuprous Oxide Nanocomposites with Superior Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties for Cost-Effective 3D Printing

“…In fused filament fabrication (FFF), which belongs to the material extrusion (MEX) family of the AM technologies [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], raw materials are mainly thermoplastic polymers and/or composites [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], with their mechanical properties thoroughly investigated in most cases [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. The form of the raw material is in filament form and usually has a diameter of 1.75 mm.…”

Affordable Biocidal Ultraviolet Cured Cuprous Oxide Filled Vat Photopolymerization Resin Nanocomposites with Enhanced Mechanical Properties

“…FFF has been widely utilized even for home usage [ 27 , 29 ]. Consequently, sufficient research has been conducted on the materials of this AM technique, providing a continuously widening variety of composite materials with enhanced mechanical [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ], thermal, [ 35 , 36 , 37 ], and other properties. In SLS, a laser beam melts the raw material, which is a powder form.…”