3D-Printing of Meso-structurally Ordered Carbon Fiber/Polymer Composites with Unprecedented Orthotropic Physical Properties

• DOI: 10.1038/srep43401
• Publication Date: 2017-03-06T12:51:46Z
• Authors: James P. Lewicki; Jennifer N. Rodri...; Cheng Zhu; Marcus A. Worsley; Amanda S. Wu; Yuliya Kanarska; John D. Horn; Eric B. Duoss; Jason M. Ortega; William Elmer; Ryan Hensleigh; Ryan A. Fellini; Michael J. King
• Keywords: Thermosetting polymer; Microscale chemistry; Orthotropic material; Carbon fibers

Abstract Here we report the first example of a class additively manufactured carbon fiber reinforced composite (AMCFRC) materials which have been achieved through use latent thermal cured aromatic thermoset resin system, an adaptation direct ink writing (DIW) 3D-printing technology. We developed means printing high performance composites, allow component and fluid to be aligned in three dimensions via controlled micro-extrusion subsequently into complex geometries. Characterization our systems clearly show that order alignment within microstructure, turn allows these outperform equivalently filled randomly oriented polymer composites. Furthermore, AM exhibit highly orthotropic mechanical electrical responses as result bundles microscale predict will ultimately lead design truly tailorable fiber/polymer hybrid having locally programmable electrical, response.