Additive manufacturing/3D printing of polymer nanocomposites: structure-related multifunctional properties

Abstract

Additive manufacturing, primarily known as 3D printing, produces physical objects or parts by adding material often layer by layer, and sometimes at various stages of manufacturing. The mechanisms to add material, the thickness of each layer, and the quality and performance of the resulting part are governed by both the process and the material used during the manufacturing. Polymers have primarily been an integral material in 3D printing. Although, it has recently been shown that ceramics and metals can also be 3D printed, polymers remain a significant part of the 3D printing industry and the vast majority of 3D printing processes use polymer materials. This chapter gives a summary of polymer 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The primary focus of this chapter is on 3D printing techniques that provide more functional parts by improving the materials employing nanotechnology—specifically using polymer-graphene nanocomposites. It is also shown that there is an explosion of interest in improving the properties of polymer-based printing materials by creating polymer composites via the introduction of continuous fibers, short fibers, and other fillers, and nanofibers. In addition, polymer nanocomposite materials, employing nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets (GNSs) to improve mechanical, thermal, electrical, and biocompatibility properties as compared with their polymer composites counterparts are also explained. Therefore, in this chapter, a general description of a few of the most important considerations is provided in the context of 3D printing of polymers. First, the general approach and associated properties are explained for 3D printing of standard polymers. Second, 3D printing of continuous fiber polymer composites is explained. Third, 3D printing of standard polymers when reinforced by nanomaterials and especially graphene nanosheets (GNSs) to produce nanocomposites, by 3D printing, and associated properties is explained as compared with those without nanomaterials reinforcements. Fourth, a 3D printing of ceramic nanocomposites is explained employing a preceramic polymer reinforced by various nanomaterials.