Designable thermal conductivity and mechanical property of polydimethylsiloxane-based composite prepared by thermoset 3D printing

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a layered additive manufacturing technology. In common 3D printing methods, direct ink writing (DIW) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) are new extrusion-based technologies. FDM works by melting a hot-melt material and squeezing it out through a tiny nozzle. Conversely, DIW, accurately deposit accurate amount of paste at different distances through the conveying system (extruder). As a unique approach, this technology introduces design freedom, versatility and stability into the printing structure at the same time. In addition, DIW technology is suitable for thermoset 3D printing. The influences of filler orientation in polymer matrix and printing paths on the thermal conductivity (λ) of thermoset 3D printing products are worth studying. Therefore, we built a thermoset 3D printer, and optimized the structure of the nozzle device, effectively improved the printing accuracy. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) are selected as polymer matrix and thermally conductive filler, respectively. Compared with pure PDMS, the λ value of hBN/PDMS composites increases obviously with increasing hBN content. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of composites with different printing paths are systematically studied. This designable orientation provides opportunities and challenges for other functional structure design such as hollow structure.