On the thermal and mechanical performance of Polycarbonate / Titanium Nitride nanocomposites in material extrusion additive manufacturing

Abstract

The development of cost-effective multipurpose nanocomposites with a superior mechanical response is of key importance in a variety of industries, such as the ones in the aircraft and the medical field. Such enhancement contributes to the reduction of the weight and dimensions of the part, which are critical parameters for the design. To achieve that, herein, Titanium Nitride (TiN) in nanopowder form was used as an enhancement agent for the Polycarbonate (PC) polymer. Nanocomposites were fabricated with Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), which is a Material Extrusion (MEX) 3D printing process. The aim was to evaluate the effect of the additive in the polymeric matrix, in an effort to produce superior filaments for demanding applications. Samples were produced, to be assessed for conforming to the corresponding standards, as well as to be characterized regarding their mechanical, thermal, and spectroscopic responses. The impact of the filler concentration was also considered. Their morphological characteristics were documented via Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It is found that the introduction of the TiN nanopowder acts as an enhancement of the matrix material's mechanical properties. The nanocomposite with 3 percent weight-to-weight (wt.%) additive concentration exhibited overall the most enhanced mechanical response. The processability and the thermal properties of the Polycarbonate matrix were kept almost intact, making the process easily upgradable for industrial use.