Multi jet fusion of surface-modified ZnO nanorod–reinforced PA12 nanocomposites

Abstract

Metal oxide nanorods exhibit promising potential as reinforcement fillers in various polymer matrices, but their application in the Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technique is rarely reported. In this work, surface-modified zinc oxide nanorods (SMZnO) were synthesized and incorporated into polyamide 12 (PA12) powder to enhance the mechanical properties of the MJF-printed parts. Compared to ZnO, SMZnO exhibited better dispersion, resulting in markedly enhanced mechanical performances. The ultimate tensile strength and the Young's modulus of the MJF-printed SMZnO/PA12 nanocomposites were 62.02 MPa and 2.28 GPa in the X orientation and 64.07 MPa and 2.34 GPa in the Y orientation, equivalent to 27.85%, 59.44%, 29.12%, and 54.97% increments, respectively. The flexural strength and modulus demonstrated similar improvements in the X and Y orientations, confirming the uniform mechanical enhancement effect of homogenously distributed SMZnO. This work provides a novel and facile approach for the additive manufacturing of polymeric nanocomposites with superior mechanical performance.