Structure and Properties of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Nanocomposite Specimens Prepared by Fused Deposition Modeling

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) nanocomposites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by melt blending and then extruded in filaments for the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. The structure and properties of the FDM printed specimens were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, tensile testing, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The results showed that MWCNTs were evenly dispersed in the styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) phase of the ABS matrix and had strong interactions with the SAN, which resulted in improvements of the tensile strength and modulus of the printed specimens. The tensile strength and modulus of the specimen with 8 wt.% MWCNTs reached 52.1 and 2727.2 MPa, which was 29% and 40% higher than those of the ABS specimens, respectively. Furthermore, the addition of MWCNTs improved the storage modulus (E '), glass transition temperature (T-g) and the thermal stability properties of the ABS specimens.

Automated summary

The addition of MWCNTs significantly improves the mechanical properties of ABS nanocomposites, including tensile strength and modulus. Furthermore, the addition of MWCNTs also improves the storage modulus, glass transition temperature, and thermal stability properties of the ABS specimens.