Research on the application of MWCNTs/PLA composite material in the manufacturing of conductive composite products in 3D printing

Abstract

As an advanced manufacturing technology that has been developed in recent years, three-dimensional (3D) printing of macromolecular materials can create complex-shaped components that cannot be realized by traditional processing. However, only a few types of macromolecular materials are suitable for 3D printing: the structure must have a single function, and manufacturing macromolecular functional devices is difficult. In this study, using poly lactic acid (PLA) as a matrix, conductive composites were prepared by adding various contents of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The printability and properties of MWCNT/PLA composites with different MWCNT proportions were studied by using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) processing technology of 3D printing. The experimental results showed that high conductivity can be realized in 3D-printed products with a composite material containing 5% MWCNTs; its conductivity was 0.4 ± 0.2 S/cm, its tensile strength was 78.4 ± 12.4 MPa, and its elongation at break was 94.4% ± 14.3%. It had a good melt flow rate and thermal properties, and it enabled smooth printing, thus meeting all the requirements for the 3D printing of consumables.