Abstract
Particle-polymer dispersions are ubiquitous in additive manufacturing (AM), where they are used as inks to create composite materials with applications to wearable sensors, energy storage materials, and actuation elements. It has been observed that directional alignment of the particle phase in the polymer dispersion can imbue the resulting composite material with enhanced mechanical, electrical, thermal or optical properties. Thus, external field-driven particle alignment during the AM process is one approach to tailoring the properties of composites for end-use applications. This review article provides an overview of externally directed field mechanisms (e.g., electric, magnetic, and acoustic) that are used for particle alignment. Illustrative examples from the AM literature show how these mechanisms are used to create structured composites with unique properties that can only be achieved through alignment. This article closes with a discussion of how particle distribution (i.e., microstructure) affects mechanical properties. A fundamental description of particle phase transport in polymers could lead to the development of AM process control for particle-polymer composite fabrication. This would ultimately create opportunities to explore the fundamental impact that alignment has on particle-polymer composite properties, which opens up the possibility of tailoring these materials for specific applications.
Highlights
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a method by which three-dimensional computeraided designs (CAD) are fabricated without the need for process planning [1]
The review concludes with a disof how external fields can contribute to specific particle that enhance cussion of how external fields can contribute to filler specific fillerarrangements particle arrangements that intrinsic material properties or can be used as an actuator to actuator improve enhance intrinsic material properties or can be used as an AM process control
The patterns observed in samples assembled using surface standing acoustic wave (SSAW) resemble Chladni figures [180], which result from time-varying localized flexing of the substrate
Summary
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a method by which three-dimensional computeraided designs (CAD) are fabricated without the need for process planning [1]. AM process for particle-polymer dispersions influences composite properas flexibility, mechanical strength, toughness, and opticaland transparency [30,31,32]. The alignment of filler particles usedmaterials in these materials is often by the application of external such as electric [57,58], and acoustic achieved by the application of fields external fields such as[55,56], electricmagnetic [55,56], magnetic [57,58], and fields [59,60,61]. The review concludes with a disof how external fields can contribute to specific particle that enhance cussion of how external fields can contribute to filler specific fillerarrangements particle arrangements that intrinsic material properties (e.g., elastic modulus) or can be used as an actuator to actuator improve enhance intrinsic material properties (e.g., elastic modulus) or can be used as an AM process control.
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