Cellulose Acetate/ABS Blends as Insulating Phases for 3D Printing of Carbon-Based Composite Sensors

This work aims to evaluate the use of cellulose acetate (CA) as a modifier for the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/graphite (ABS/GR) composite electrode, intending the use of renewable sources in the manufacture of sustainable filaments for the direct FDM sensors construction. ABS/CA blends were prepared in different proportions by casting method, replacing pure ABS in the 65% w/w ABS/GR composite electrodes. The blends were characterized by FTIR and TGA/DTG. The modified ABS/CA/GR electrodes were evaluated for surface by AFM, and electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry (CV). FTIR and TGA/DTG curves showed satisfactory proportions, with emphasis on the proportions of 5 and 10% w/w, whose thermal decomposition profiles did not differ substantially from pure ABS, up to 10% w/w blends. The presence of CA in the electrode composition promoted an increase in the surface smoothing (lower roughness) due to the CA gelation effect on dissolution in acetone. The CV data interestingly demonstrated an increase in the electroactive area and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k degrees), demonstrating that there was an improvement in the load transfer kinetics, with electrocatalysis evidence.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the use of cellulose acetate as a modifier in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/graphite composite electrodes, showing that it can improve surface smoothness and enhance load transfer kinetics.