Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printing: A Way to Construct 3D Electrically Conductive Segregated Network in Polymer Matrix

Selective laser sintering (SLS), which can directly turn 3D models into real objects, is employed to prepare the flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) conductor using self-made carbon nanotubes (CNTs) wrapped TPU powders. The SLS printing, as a shear-free and free-flowing processing without compacting, provides a unique approach to construct conductive segregated networks of CNTs in the polymer matrix. The electrical conductivity for the SLS processed TPU/CNTs composite has a lower percolation threshold of 0.2 wt% and reaches approximate to 10(-1) S m(-1) at 1 wt% CNTs content, which is seven orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional injection-molded TPU/CNTs composites at the same CNTs content. The 3D printed TPU/CNTs specimen can maintain good flexibility and durability, even after repeated bending for 1000 cycles, the electrical resistance can keep at a nearly constant value. The flexible conductive TPU/CNTs composite with complicated structures and shapes like porous piezoresistors can be easily obtained by this approach.