Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of a Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Nylon Filament for 3D Printing

Flaviana Calignano,Ignanio Roppolo,Massimo Lorusso,Paolo Minetola

doi:10.3390/machines8030052

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) has rapidly developed in recent years. In the recent past, many researchers have highlighted the development of in-house filaments for fused filament fabrication (FFF), which can extend the corresponding field of application. Due to the limited mechanical properties and deficient functionality of printed polymer parts, there is a need to develop printable polymer composites that exhibit high performance. This study analyses the actual mechanical characteristics of parts fabricated with a low-cost printer from a carbon fibre-reinforced nylon filament. The results show that the obtained values differ considerably from the values presented in the datasheets of various filament suppliers. Moreover, the hardness and tensile strength are influenced by the building direction, the infill percentage, and the thermal stresses, whereas the resilience is affected only by the building direction. Furthermore, the relationship between the mechanical properties and the filling factor is not linear.

Highlights

Additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) is constantly evolving due to open source technologies [1,2,3]and the possibility of producing complex geometries with lower costs, faster production times, and less waste [4,5,6] than traditionally manufactured parts [7]
The final strength, quality, cost and production time of the fuses partswith fabricated by fused filament fabrication (FFF) are influenced by some process parameters, such as layer thickness, time of the parts fabricated by FFF are influenced by some process parameters, such as layer thickness, infill pattern, extruder uniformity and/or build-bed temperature, and the presence of reinforcing infill pattern, extruder uniformity and/or build-bed temperature, and by theby presence of reinforcing materials
This study investigated the performance of parts produced with an FFF 3D printer from chopped carbon fibre-reinforced nylon filaments

Summary

Introduction

Additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) is constantly evolving due to open source technologies [1,2,3]and the possibility of producing complex geometries with lower costs, faster production times, and less waste [4,5,6] than traditionally manufactured parts [7]. The FFF head moves in the x and y directions, whereas the platform moves in the z direction. The FFF is manufactured by the sequential build-upwhereas of these each head moves in the x and y directions, thelayered platform depositions, moves in the zduring direction.which. The final strength, quality, cost and production material that has already been deposited. The final strength, quality, cost and production time of the fuses partswith fabricated by FFF are influenced by some process parameters, such as layer thickness, time of the parts fabricated by FFF are influenced by some process parameters, such as layer thickness, infill pattern, extruder uniformity and/or build-bed temperature, and the presence of reinforcing infill pattern, extruder uniformity and/or build-bed temperature, and by theby presence of reinforcing materials (e.g., carbon fibres [16])

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion