Multifunctional PLA/CNTs nanocomposites hybrid 3D printing integrating material extrusion and CO2 laser cutting

Abstract

Material extrusion (MEX) 3D printing fabricates cost-effective functional polymeric parts, while a new class of materials, such as polylactic acid/carbon nanotubes (PLA/CNTs) nanocomposites, have great potential for use in MEX due to their multi-functional performance. MEX advantages include the construction of lightweight specimens with complex geometry, in minimum time and with minimum waste, while its drawbacks are related to the parts' surface roughness, anisotropic behavior, and shape accuracy. To improve the properties of parts, build with MEX, thus extending their applicability in areas such as biomedical, aeronautics, automotive, printing electronics, and others, the 3D printing parameters need to be controlled, while post-processing further and significantly improve their performance. Combining 3D printing with laser as a post-processing technology highly improves the efficiency of the nanocomposites. In this work, new data are reported on PLA/CNT nanocomposites in thin plates form, manufactured with MEX and pro-processed with low-cost CO2 laser cutting, for the improvement of their shape accuracy and their surface roughness, making them eligible for use in innovative nanocomposite-based applications.