Fused Deposition Modeling Three-dimensional Printing Research Articles

Constitutive Relation Development for Fused Deposition Modeling Three-Dimensional Printing Materials and Simulation of Printing Direction Combination

Abstract Due to the forming or curing process, the materials of three-dimensional (3D) printing have periodic meso-defects, which result in complex constitutive relations and anisotropy. Fused deposition modeling (FDM), which is a typical 3D printing process, inevitably introduces stacking pore defects due to the three-dimensional stacking of materials along the printing direction. At present, research focuses on the mechanical properties of materials printed along only one single direction. To consider the possibility of changing the mechanical properties of materials by adjusting the printing direction, the change in the properties of printing materials along the multiple printing direction combinations was analyzed in this paper. First, based on a continuous medium model, the constitutive model proposed by Garzon-Hernandez et al. was considered, and then to improve the prediction accuracy of the model in the plastic stage, a model describing the porosity change rate of porous materials was introduced to obtain better prediction results. Then, the finite element method (FEM) was developed using the new constitutive relation model implemented by the user defined material subroutine (USERMAT) into ansys software. Second, through the finite element subroutine, the mechanical response of the FDM 3D printing plate with two different printing direction combinations was simulated. The results show that by adjusting the print direction combination of the double-layer FDM 3D printing materials, the materials show a different anisotropy, maximum bearing capacity of tension and shear and buckling resistance.

Design and optimization of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride biodegradable 3D printed ocular inserts: Full factorial design and in-vitro and ex-vivo evaluations: Part II

Coupling hot-melt extrusion (HME) with fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing (FDM-3DP) can facilitate the fabrication of tailored, patient-centered, and complex-shaped ocular dosage forms. We fabricated ciprofloxacin HCl ocular inserts by coupling high-throughput, solvent-free, and continuous HME with FDM-3DP. Insert fabrication utilized biocompatible, biodegradable, bioadhesive Klucel™ hydroxypropyl cellulose polymer, subjected to distinct FDM-3DP processing parameters, utilizing a design of experiment approach to achieve a tailored release profile. We determined the drug content, thermal properties, drug-excipient compatibility, surface morphology, in vitro release, antibacterial activity, ex-vivo transcorneal permeation, and stability of inserts. An inverse relationship was noted between insert thickness, infill density, and drug release rate. The optimized design demonstrated an amorphous solid dispersion with an extended-release profile over 24 h, no physical or chemical incompatibility, excellent mucoadhesive strength, smooth surface, lack of bacterial growth (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in all release samples, and prolonged transcorneal drug flux compared with commercial eye drops and immediate-release inserts. The designed inserts were stable at room temperature considering drug content, thermal behavior, and release profile over three months. Overall, the fabricated insert could reduce administration frequency to once-daily dosing, affording a promising topical delivery platform with prolonged antibacterial activity and superior therapeutic outcomes for managing ocular bacterial infections.

A review of hot melt extrusion paired fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing for developing patient centric dosage forms

In recent years, the demand for developing patient-centric dosage forms is increasing enormously with the increasing patient population. Much research is ongoing exploring various additive manufacturing techniques for developing pharmaceutical medications. Poor solubility of drug substances and underdeveloped manufacturing strategies are majorly affecting the pharmaceutical industry's revenue. Developing intravenous dosage forms for drug substances with poor solubility will affect the revenue of the pharmaceutical industries. Thus, improving solubility remains to be the major prerequisite for the developmental scientist. In addition to improving solubility, establishing a robust manufacturing process with commercial viability is also essential. In recent years hot melt extrusion (HME) has been most widely investigated for developing amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) over other techniques such as spray drying and KinetisolÒ. The process of HME can be coupled with the fused deposition modeling (FDM) three-dimensional (3D) printing technique which is capable of fabricating on-demand patient-centric dosage forms. A continuous manufacturing line can be established by painting HME and FDM 3D printing processes. The quality of the product can be controlled and monitored by employing suitable process analytical technology (PAT) tools. Though the process of the HME-paired FDM 3D printing process has resulted in various advantages compared to the conventional manufacturing process, still many limitations, such as the limited number of polymers, reproducibility, and stability, need to be addressed.

A review of hot melt extrusion paired fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing for developing patient centric dosage forms

A review of hot melt extrusion paired fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing for developing patient centric dosage forms

(Battery Division Postdoctoral Associate Research Award Sponsored by MTI Corporation and the Jiang Family Foundation) 3D Printing of Batteries: Fiction or Reality?

Motivated by the request to build shape-conformable flexible, wearable and customizable batteries while maximizing the energy storage and electrochemical performances, additive manufacturing (AM) appears as a revolutionary discipline. Battery components such as electrodes, separator, electrolyte, current collectors and casing can be tailored with any shape, allowing the direct incorporation of batteries and all electronics within the final three-dimensional object. AM also paves the way toward the implementation of complex 3D electrode architectures that could enhance significantly the power battery performances. Transitioning from conventional 2D to complex 3D lithium-ion battery (LIB) architectures will increase the electrochemically active surface area, enhance the Li+ diffusion paths, thus leading to improved specific capacity and power performance [1]. Our recent modeling studies [2] involving the simulation of a classical Ragone plot illustrated that a gyroid 3D battery architecture has +158% performance at a high current density of 6C, in comparison to planar geometry.In this presentation, an overview of current trends in energy storage 3D printing will be discussed [3-11]. A summary of our recent works on lithium-ion battery 3D printing via Thermoplastic Material Extrusion / Fused Deposition Modeling will be presented [12-16]. The development of printable composite filaments (Graphite-, LiFePO4-, Li2TP-, PEO/LiTFSI-, SiO2-, Ag/Cu-based) corresponding to each part of a LIB (electrodes, electrolyte, separator, current collectors), and the importance of introducing a plasticizer (polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether average Mn 500 for polylactic acid) as an additive to enhance the printability will be addressed. Printing of the complete LIB in a single step using multi-material printing options, and the implementation of a solvent-free protocol [14] will also be discussed. Second part of this presentation will be dedicated to AM of batteries by means of Vat Photopolymerization (VPP) processes, including stereolithography, digital light processing and two-photon polymerization (offering a greater resolution down to 0.1μm), to print high resolution battery components [10]. Composite resins formulation approaches based on the introduction of solid battery particles or precursor salts will be introduced [17, 18]. Finally, an overview of our ongoing project dedicatedto AM of sodium-ion batteries from resources available on the Moon and Mars will be presented. Due to its relative abundance in the Lunar regolith, the development of a composite photocurable resin loaded with TiO2 negative electrode material and conductive additives, to feed a VPP printer, will be discussed [18].[1] Long et al., Three-dimensional battery architectures, Chemical Reviews 104(10) (2004) 4463-4492.[2] Maurel et al., Considering lithium-ion battery 3D-printing via thermoplastic material extrusion and polymer powder bed fusion, Additive Manufacturing (2020) 101651.[3] Maurel et al., Overview on Lithium-Ion Battery 3D-Printing By Means of Material Extrusion, ECS Transactions 98(13) (2020) 3-21.[4] Ragones et al., Towards smart free form-factor 3D printable batteries, Sustainable Energy & Fuels 2(7) (2018) 1542-1549.[5] Reyes et al., Three-Dimensional Printing of a Complete Lithium Ion Battery with Fused Filament Fabrication, ACS Applied Energy Materials 1(10) (2018) 5268-5279.[6] Yee et al., Hydrogel-Based Additive Manufacturing of Lithium Cobalt Oxide, Advanced Materials Technologies 6(2) (2021).[7] Saccone et al., Understanding and mitigating mechanical degradation in lithium–sulfur batteries: additive manufacturing of Li2S composites and nanomechanical particle compressions, Journal of Materials Research (2021).[8] Tagliaferri et al., Direct ink writing of energy materials, Materials Advances 2(2) (2021) 25.[9] Sun et al., 3D Printing of Interdigitated Li-Ion Microbattery Architectures, Advanced Materials 25(33) (2013) 4539-4543.[10] Maurel et al., Toward High Resolution 3D Printing of Shape-Conformable Batteries via Vat Photopolymerization: Review and Perspective, IEEE Access 9 (2021) 140654-140666.[11] Seol et al., All-Printed In-Plane Supercapacitors by Sequential Additive Manufacturing Process, Acs Applied Energy Materials 3(5) (2020) 4965-4973.[12] Maurel et al., Highly Loaded Graphite-Polylactic Acid Composite-Based Filaments for Lithium-Ion Battery Three-Dimensional Printing, Chemistry of Materials 30(21) (2018) 7484-7493.[13] Maurel et al., Three-Dimensional Printing of a LiFePO4/Graphite Battery Cell via Fused Deposition Modeling, Scientific Reports 9(1) (2019) 18031.[14] Maurel et al., Environmentally Friendly Lithium-Terephthalate/Polylactic Acid Composite Filament Formulation for Lithium-Ion Battery 3D-Printing via Fused Deposition Modeling, ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 10(3) (2021) 037004.[15] Maurel et al., Poly(Ethylene Oxide)-LiTFSI Solid Polymer Electrolyte Filaments for Fused Deposition Modeling Three-Dimensional Printing, Journal of the Electrochemical Society 167(7) (2020).[16] Maurel et al., Ag-Coated Cu/Polylactic Acid Composite Filament for Lithium and Sodium-Ion Battery Current Collector Three-Dimensional Printing via Thermoplastic Material Extrusion, Frontiers in Energy Research 9(70) (2021).[17] Martinez et al., Additive Manufacturing of LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 battery electrode material via vat photopolymerization precursor approach, (submitted).[18] Maurel et al., Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing of Sodium-Ion Battery TiO2 Negative Electrodes from Lunar In-Situ Resources, (submitted).

Fabrication of a shell-core fixed-dose combination tablet using fused deposition modeling 3D printing

Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) achieve optimal goals for treatment with minimal side effects, decreased administration of large number of tablets, thus, greater convenience, and improved patient compliance. However, conventional FDCs do not have a guaranteed place in the future of patient-centered drug development because of the difficulty in achieving dose titration of each drug for individualized specific health needs and desired therapeutic outcomes. In the current study, FDCs of two antihypertensive drugs were fabricated with two distinct compartments using fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing (FDM-3DP). Atorvastatin calcium and Amlodipine besylate loaded filaments were prepared by hot-melt extrusion. Shell-core FDC tablets were designed to have different infills for individualized dosing. Differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction revealed that both drugs were transformed into amorphous forms within the polymeric carriers. The fabricated tablets met the United States Pharmacopeia acceptance criteria for friability, content uniformity, and dissolution testing. The fabricated tablets were stable at room temperature with respect to drug content and thermal behavior over six months. This dynamic dosage form provides flexibility in dose titration and maintains the advantages of FDCs, thus achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes in different healthcare facilities.

4D-printed pH sensing claw

As an example of extending the functionality of analytical devices manufactured using four-dimensional printing (4DP), in this study we employed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic filaments, poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP)-incorporated ABS filaments, and multi-material fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing (3DP) to fabricate a pH measurement device that underwent pH-dependent geometric changes. Upon immersion in a solution having a pH close to the value of pKa of P4VP (ca. 5.0), electrostatic repulsion among the protonated units of P4VP resulted in swelling only of the part printed using the P4VP-incorporated ABS filaments, leading to lifting of the whole device along the z-axis (ΔH) in a pH-dependent manner. After optimizing the device's design and fabrication, this 4D-printed pH sensing claw exhibited linearity between the value of ΔH and values of pH in the range from 5.0 to 8.6. We used this 4D-printed pH sensing claw to perform pH analyses of complicated real samples, verifying its analytical reliability for non-electrochemical and non-optical pH measurement and highlighting the capability of 4DP technologies in the direct fabrication of stimuli-responsive sensing devices. We envision that 4DP technologies will prompt the manufacture of smart sensing devices through the printing of stimuli-responsive materials, thereby diversifying the development of 3DP-enabling analytical chemistry.

Fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing of flexible polyurethane intravaginal rings with controlled tunable release profiles for multiple active drugs

We designed and engineered novel intravaginal ring (IVR) medical devices via fused deposition modeling (FDM) three-dimensional (3D) printing for controlled delivery of hydroxychloroquine, IgG, gp120 fragment (encompassing the CD4 binding site), and coumarin 6 PLGA-PEG nanoparticles (C6NP). The hydrophilic polyurethanes were utilized to 3D-print reservoir-type IVRs containing a tunable release controlling membrane (RCM) with varying thickness and adaptable micro porous structures (by altering the printing patterns and interior fill densities) for controlled sustained drug delivery over 14 days. FDM 3D printing of IVRs were optimized and implemented using a lab-developed Cartesian 3D printer. The structures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and in vitro release was performed using 5 mL of daily-replenished vaginal fluid simulant (pH 4.2). The release kinetics of the IVR segments were tunable with various RCM (outer diameter to inner diameter ratio ranging from 1.12 to 2.61) produced from FDM 3D printing by controlling the printing perimeter to provide daily zero-order release of HCQ ranging from 23.54 ± 3.54 to 261.09 ± 32.49 µg/mL/day. IgG, gp120 fragment, and C6NP release rates demonstrated pattern and in-fill density-dependent characteristics. The current study demonstrated the utility of FDM 3D printing to rapidly fabricate complex micro-structures for tunable and sustained delivery of a variety of compounds including HCQ, IgG, gp120 fragment, and C6NP from IVRs in a controlled manner.Graphical abstract

Lithium-Ion Battery 3D Printing: From Thermoplastic Material Extrusion to Vat Photopolymerization Process

Transitioning from conventional 2D to complex 3D lithium-ion battery (LIB) architectures will increase electrochemically active surface area and lithium-ion diffusion paths, leading to improved specific capacity and power performance [1]. Our recent in-depth modeling studies and preliminary experiments [2] involving the simulation of a classical Ragone plot that exhibits the energy-power relationship illustrated that a gyroid 3D battery architecture has +158% performance at a high current density of 6C, in comparison to planar geometry. The fabrication of complex electrodes has been widely investigated through an electrochemically-assisted templated growth of current collector arrays, followed by electrophoretic deposition of the electroactive material [3]. However, such an approach is limited in geometries, and the interpenetration of both electrode networks often results in short circuits due to surface defects. The latter can be addressed with the geometric freedom of additive manufacturing, colloquially known as 3D printing, which paves the way toward fabricating complex shape-conformable battery components [4]. Here, a summary of our recent works on lithium-ion battery 3D printing via thermoplastic material extrusion will be presented [5-9]. In particular, the development of printable composite filaments (Graphite-, LiFePO4-, Li2TP-, PEO/LiTFSI-, SiO2-, Ag/Cu-based) corresponding to each part of a classical LIB (electrodes, electrolyte, separator, current collectors), as well as the importance of introducing an adequate plasticizer (such as poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether average Mn 500 for polylactic acid) as an additive to enhance both printability and further electrochemical performances, will be addressed. Printing of the complete LIB in a single step using multi-material printing options, and the implementation of a solvent-free protocol [7] will also be discussed. Finally, the capability of vat photopolymerization processes, including stereolithography, digital light processing and two-photon polymerization (offering a greater resolution down to 0.1µm), to print high resolution LIB components will be presented.[1] J.W. Long, B. Dunn, D.R. Rolison, H.S. White, Three-dimensional battery architectures, Chemical Reviews 104(10) (2004) 4463-4492.[2] A. Maurel, M. Haukka, E. MacDonald, L. Kivijärvi, E. Lahtinen, H. Kim, M. Armand, A. Cayla, A. Jamali, S. Grugeon, L. Dupont, S. Panier, Considering lithium-ion battery 3D-printing via thermoplastic material extrusion and polymer powder bed fusion, Additive Manufacturing (2020) 101651.[3] L. Taberna, S. Mitra, P. Poizot, P. Simon, J.M. Tarascon, High rate capabilities Fe3O4-based Cu nano-architectured electrodes for lithium-ion battery applications, Nature Materials 5(7) (2006) 567-573.[4] H. Ragones, S. Menkin, Y. Kamir, A. Gladkikh, T. Mukra, G. Kosa, D. Golodnitsky, Towards smart free form-factor 3D printable batteries, Sustainable Energy & Fuels 2(7) (2018) 1542-1549.[5] A. Maurel, M. Courty, B. Fleutot, H. Tortajada, K. Prashantha, M. Armand, S. Grugeon, S. Panier, L. Dupont, Highly Loaded Graphite-Polylactic Acid Composite-Based Filaments for Lithium-Ion Battery Three-Dimensional Printing, Chemistry of Materials 30(21) (2018) 7484-7493.[6] A. Maurel, S. Grugeon, B. Fleutot, M. Courty, K. Prashantha, H. Tortajada, M. Armand, S. Panier, L. Dupont, Three-Dimensional Printing of a LiFePO4/Graphite Battery Cell via Fused Deposition Modeling, Scientific Reports 9(1) (2019) 18031.[7] A. Maurel, R. Russo, S. Grugeon, S. Panier, L. Dupont, Environmentally Friendly Lithium-Terephthalate/Polylactic Acid Composite Filament Formulation for Lithium-Ion Battery 3D-Printing via Fused Deposition Modeling, ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 10(3) (2021) 037004.[8] A. Maurel, M. Armand, S. Grugeon, B. Fleutot, C. Davoisne, H. Tortajada, M. Courty, S. Panier, L. Dupont, Poly(Ethylene Oxide)-LiTFSI Solid Polymer Electrolyte Filaments for Fused Deposition Modeling Three-Dimensional Printing, Journal of the Electrochemical Society 167(7) (2020).[9] A. Maurel, H. Kim, R. Russo, S. Grugeon, M. Armand, S. Panier, L. Dupont, Ag-Coated Cu/Polylactic Acid Composite Filament for Lithium and Sodium-Ion Battery Current Collector Three-Dimensional Printing via Thermoplastic Material Extrusion, Frontiers in Energy Research 9(70) (2021).

Influence of Layer Parameters in Fused Deposition Modeling Three-Dimensional Printing on the Tensile Strength of a Product

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is a hopeful technique that is used to produce complex geometry parts in a layer-by-layer method. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a popular 3D printing technology for producing components of thermoplastic polymers. In FDM process, the part quality is influenced strongly by the printing parameters. Until now, these parameters stil need to be investigated. Therefore, in this study, the influence of FDM 3D printing parameters on the tensile strength of product will be investigated. By experiment, three parameters, that is, layer height, solid layer top, and first-layer height, were studied. The investigation shows that the layer height is the only parameter impacted the tensile strength of the product.

Preparation of Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Polylactic Acid/Graphene Nanocomposites for Fused Deposition Modeling Three-Dimensional Printing

Herein, a novel local enrichment strategy (LES) was proposed to fabricate functional polylactic acid (PLA)/graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) nanocomposites for fused deposition modeling (FDM) three-dimensional (3D) printing by precisely manipulating the selective distribution of fillers. Experimental results showed that the PLA/GNP nanocomposites prepared using the LES method exhibited higher electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties than those prepared using the conventional melt-compounding method. Particularly for EMI properties, the shielding efficiency (SE) of an LES sample prepared at 6 and 10 wt % GNPs reached 21.7 and 34.7 dB, respectively, which is an improvement of over 45% compared with the conventional ones. In addition, based on the theoretical analysis of shear field and the experimental verification of filler distribution after printing, a functional 3D printed honeycomb-like part with a porous structure, light weight, and highly efficient EMI shielding properties was successfully fabricated using the FDM 3D printing technology. A new strategy was accordingly established by manipulating the filler distribution to prepare functional filaments and parts for EMI shielding applications in this innovative study.

Poly(Ethylene Oxide)−LiTFSI Solid Polymer Electrolyte Filaments for Fused Deposition Modeling Three-Dimensional Printing

Additive manufacturing technologies open the way to the direct-integration of electronics and solid-state battery within the final 3D object. Here, a 3D printable polyethylene oxide/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PEO/LiTFSI) filament (2.18 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 90 °C) optimized to be used as solid polymer electrolyte in a lithium-ion battery is produced to feed a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D-printer. Due to its relatively poor mechanical properties compared to classical polymer filament such as polylactic acid (PLA), deep modifications of the 3D-printer were implemented in order to facilitate its printability. The solid polymer electrolyte thermal, structural, morphological, mechanical and electrical characterization is reported. Interestingly, using three different electrochemical impedance spectroscopy sample holders (lateral, sandwich and interdigitated-comb), we demonstrate that conductivity values differs for a same sample, highlighting the PEO chains orientation effect on the conductivity measurements.

Denture flask fabrication using fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing

PurposeThis paper describes a method for making a customized denture flask using fused deposition modeling (FDM) by three-dimensional (3D) printing. We have proposed a new digital dental prosthesis using conventional dental base materials and artificial teeth. MethodsUsing the universal development system software, a denture-designed Standard Tessellation Language (STL) file and a denture flask STL file were superimposed, and the denture region was set as an empty space. After setting the offset value to 200μm between the denture base and teeth for artificial tooth positioning, the flask was created by FDM 3D printing. Conventional artificial teeth were inserted into the 3D-printed flask, and resin packing, finishing, and polishing were performed using the conventional method for fabricating the complete denture. ConclusionsThe 3D printing materials used to make digital dental prostheses have not yet been fully validated. Therefore, the production of a 3D-printed denture flask, which can use conventional complete denture materials, presents a new alternative to the digital fabrication of dentures.

3D-printed CuO nanoparticle-functionalized flow reactor enables online fluorometric monitoring of glucose.

An online flow reactor was fabricated by using a fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology along with thermoplastic poly(lactic acid) filaments incorporating copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). In the presence of glucose, the flow reactor displays multi-catalytic activities because accelerates the oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein to form fluorescein which displays green fluorescence under 480nm excitation (emission wavelength: 530nm). The CuO NPs exert two functions to mediate electron transfer at a basic reaction condition, viz. direct oxidation of glucose to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and prompting the ROS to oxidize 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. The flow reactor coupled to a microdialysis sampler and a fluorometer was applied for online fluorometric monitoring of brain extracellular glucose levels in living rats based on scanning of time-resolved fluorescence intensities. After optimization of (a) the manufacture of the flow reactor, (b) the reaction conditions (pH10; 50°C), and (c) the online analytical system, the detection limit of the method (when using 10-μL samples of microdialysate) is as low as 6.1μM (linear range: 0.05-5mM) with a sampling frequency of 7.5h-1. To illustrate the method's applicability, analyses of spiked off-line-collected rat brain microdialysates were conducted. In addition, rat brain extracellular glucose levels were monitored in-vivo and online upon neuronal depolarization triggered by perfusing a high-K+ medium. The results demonstrate that functionalizing raw 3DP materials with appropriate nanomaterials can simplify the manufacturing of analytical devices and related analytical procedures. This will extend the diversity and adaptability of current 3DP-enabling analytical strategies. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of an online flow reactor fabricated using a fused deposition modeling 3D printer along with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) filaments incorporating CuO NPs. The manufactured flow reactor displays multi-catalytic activities and simplifies online fluorometric monitoring of living rat brain extracellular glucose.

Three-dimensional printed embedded channel–based resistive strain sensor: Fabrication and experimental characterization

This work explores the feasibility of commercially available elastic filament and desktop fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing as a simple and cost-effective route to develop flexible sensors. The fabricated sensor consists of a three-dimensional printed flexible substrate with embedded U-shaped channels that are filled with Galinstan (Ga 68.5% In 21.5% Sn 10%) liquid metal conductor. When the sensor is strained, the cross-sectional area of the channels decreases causing a reduction in the conducting area and, therefore, a change in resistance. First, sensors measuring approximately 2100 μm by 200 μm are fabricated. Results demonstrate gauge factors of approximately 2.1 at 38.8% strain with high linearity and little hysteresis. In addition, smaller strain sensors, measuring approximately 696 µm by 203 µm, are fabricated with gauge factors of nearly 1.0 at 13.2% strain. Results show that substrate relaxation plays an essential role in determining the functionality of these sensors. The Mullins effect largely influences the recovery properties of the rubber-like sensor substrate. This leads to a noticeable relaxation in the substrate during cyclic loading. The results demonstrate the potential of commercially available fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing technology and filaments to produce complex designs and sensor platforms.

Transport properties of 3D printed polymer nanocomposites for potential thermoelectric applications

We report the transport and thermoelectric properties of three-dimensional printed samples, which are composed by polymer nanocomposites. For the purposes of the current study, the well-known fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printing method was employed. Commercially available PLA-based nanocomposite filaments, such as PLA–graphite and PLA–graphene, are used to produce mm-scale samples. Electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were investigated, as a function of temperature. PLA–graphene samples exhibit effective thermoelectric performance, comparable to the other state-of-the art polymer nanocomposites, indicating that commercial polymer nanocomposites can be promising candidates for 3D printed thermoelectric devices.

Increased piezoelectric response in functional nanocomposites through multiwall carbon nanotube interface and fused-deposition modeling three-dimensional printing - CORRIGENDUM

Increased piezoelectric response in functional nanocomposites through multiwall carbon nanotube interface and fused-deposition modeling three-dimensional printing - CORRIGENDUM

Increased piezoelectric response in functional nanocomposites through multiwall carbon nanotube interface and fused-deposition modeling three-dimensional printing

Abstract

Fabrication of modeling platform for fused deposition modeling using vacuum casting

AbstractThis study presents a cost‐effective approach for rapid fabricating modeling platforms utilized in fused deposition modeling three‐dimensional printing system. A small‐batch production of modeling platforms about 20 pieces can be obtained economically through silicone rubber mold using vacuum casting without applying the plastic injection molding. The air venting systems is crucial for fabricating modeling platform using vacuum casting. Modeling platforms fabricated can be used for building rapid prototyping model after sandblasting. This study offers industrial value because it has both time‐effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness.