Development of ABS-Graphene Blended Feedstock Filament for FDM Process

Abstract

The thermoplastic materials like acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS), Nylon etc. have large applications in three dimensional printing of functional/ non-functional prototypes. Usually these polymer based prototypes lacks in thermal and electrical properties. The graphene (Gr) has attracted impressive enthusiasm in the recent past due to its natural mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. This chapter presents the detailed step by step procedure (as a case study) for development of in-house ABS-Gr blended composite feed stock filament for fused deposition modelling (FDM) applications. The feed stock filament has been prepared by two different methods (mechanical and chemical mixing). For mechanical mixing twin screw extrusion (TSE) process has been used and for chemical mixing the composite of Gr in ABS matrix has been set by chemical dissolution followed by mechanical blending through TSE. Finally electrical, thermal conductivity, shore D hardness and micro structural properties of composite feed stock filament prepared by two different methods have been optimized. The recycling ability of composite prepared was further ensured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).