Graphene reinforced polymer matrix composites using 3D printing

Abstract

This study seeks to to manufacture, characterise and compare nacre-like reinforced nylon composites. The nacre-like reinforcement shall be graphene. The composites printed will be of four different series which are nine, six, three and one layer of grapehene. Samples will be printed using novel hybrid manufacturing method, with nylon as the filament and 5 wt.% graphene ink as the precursor for graphene. Composite samples were printed into four different series; nine, six, three and one layer graphene composites. Each series had five samples. Five nylon samples were printed at 0.1mm layer height. Samples were then post processed prior to tensile tests.

This report will cover the manufacturing processes of samples, printing and post processing parameters, contact angle test of polymer substrates, tensile testing of samples and the fractography of samples. The literature review will cover aspects of additive manufacturing, types of polymers and reinforcements along with their mechanical properties and characteristics. Different composites were also studied to achieve a better understanding.

The results indicated a lower ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 19.06111 MPa from the six layer composites in comparison with nylon which had a UTS of 34.60864 MPa. The single layer composite demonstrated the highest UTS and youngs modulus of 37.12502 MPa and 571.467 MPa respectively amongst the composites, while the six layer graphene composite demonstrated the lowest UTS and youngs modulus of 19.06111 MPa and 246.129 MPa respectively. The mechanical properties comparison of composites to nylon were then discussed in this study.