Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Nanocomposite Filaments for Fused Deposition Modelling Type 3D Printing

The multi-walled carbon nanotube/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MWCNT/ABS) nanocomposite filaments containing 3, 5, and 10 wt% nanofiller were prepared by an extruder to use the fused deposition modeling (FDM) type three-dimensional (3D) printing technique. The functional MWCNT/ABS nanocomposites were converted into monofilament form by a special extrusion die. In the next step, test samples were produced from the obtained nanocomposite filaments on FDM printers to characterize morphological, electrical, and mechanical properties. As a result of characterization tests, the optimum 3D printing temperature and loading ratio of MWCNT are determined as 250 degrees C and 10 wt%, respectively. This sample, which has the lowest volume resistivity as 2.13E7 ohm.cm, meets the requirements of electrostatic discharge materials. The presence of MWCNT in ABS matrix resulted in a significant improvement in elastic modulus and thermal properties, but a decrease in elongation at break and impact strength. In this study, it was revealed that the MWCNT nanofiller in ABS matrix can change the morphology of the 3D printed sample as foam-like porous structures, which possibly leads to reduced resistance to stress.

Automated summary

In this study, MWCNT/ABS nanocomposite filaments were prepared using extrusion and printing techniques, and their morphological, electrical, and mechanical properties were characterized. The results showed that the samples exhibited good resistivity and elastic modulus at specific temperature and nanofiller concentration, while elongation at break and impact strength decreased. Additionally, the presence of MWCNT also altered the morphology of the samples.