Abstract
The additive manufacturing (AM) of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites continue to grow due to the attractive strength-to-weight and modulus-to-weight ratios afforded by the composites combined with the ease of processibility achievable through the AM technique. Short fiber design factors such as fiber content effects have been shown to play determinant roles in the mechanical performance of AM fabricated CFRP composites. However, this has only been investigated for tensile and flexural properties, with no investigations to date on compressive properties effects of fiber content. This study examined the axial and transverse compressive properties of AM fabricated CFRP composites by testing CF-ABS with fiber contents from 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% for samples printed in the axial and transverse build orientations, and for axial tensile in comparison to the axial compression properties. The results were that increasing carbon fiber content for the short-fiber thermoplastic CFRP composites slightly reduced compressive strength and modulus. However, it increased ductility and toughness. The 20% carbon fiber content provided the overall content with the most decent compressive properties for the 0–30% content studied. The AM fabricated composite demonstrates a generally higher compressive property than tensile property because of the higher plastic deformation ability which characterizes compression loaded parts, which were observed from the different failure modes.
Highlights
Short fibers are preferred to continuous fibers in certain additive manufacturing (AM) applications because of the ease of fabrication into intricate shapes while still providing improved mechanical properties
Understanding the effect of carbon fiber content on compressive properties is important to the sustainable application of short fiber AM fabricated carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites in applications such as wind energy, where they have been used to fabricate wind turbine molds and are currently being explored to fabricate turbine components [15,16]
13% short fiber AM fabricated CFRP composite in which they claimed the addition of carbon fiber to a thermoplastic matrix significantly increases the strength, stiffness, and thermal conductivity, and greatly reduced the distortion of the parts
Summary
Developments in additive manufacturing (AM) of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites continue to grow because of their increasing acceptance as alternatives to metallic materials in several applications, mainly due to their attractive strength-toweight and modulus-to-weight ratios [1]. They benefit from easier processability and manufacturing flexibilities because of their lower melting temperatures, which are usually high enough to meet operational temperature requirements and low enough for flexible manufacturing outside of dedicated facilities [2]. The justification for more understanding of AM fabricated CFRP composites from conducting this investigation to determine the effects of fiber content on the compressive properties
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
