Enhanced mechanical properties of CNT/Graphene reinforced PLA-based composites fabricated via fused deposition modelling

Abstract

• CNT and graphene-reinforced PLA-based 3D printing filament may be produced efficiently using the twin-screw extrusion method and compounding. • According to microstructure investigations, the FDM pieces have a homogeneous distribution of CNT and graphene, a strong mechanical binding, and no obvious flaws. The UTS of PLA composite was significantly enhanced by CNTs and graphene, increasing from 28 MPa of pure PLA to 48 MPa for 1.5 wt percent CNT and 0.5 wt percent graphene, which corresponded to a 71 % increase. • There was a noticeable reduction of ductility from around 1 % for plain PLA to around 0.5 % for the highest CNT-loaded composite, demonstrating that reinforcement increases strength and ductility reduces. • The smoother crack channel created by CNTs and graphene slowed crack start and propagation, increasing mechanical properties, according to the SEM study of cracked surfaces. This study addresses the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) composite materials reinforced by CNTs and graphene, produced using the Fused Deposition Modeling process. The collaborative impact of graphene and CNTs upon the primary mechanical attributes including UTS, yield strength, modulus of elasticity, and impact resistance has been investigated. Three distinct CNT's weight percentages of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 have been fabricated under constant graphene content at 0.5 wt%. These findings revealed that the UTS of pure PLA were 28 MPa, whereas for the composite with 1.5 wt% CNT and 0.5 wt% graphene, it was raised to 48 MPa. From 2.6 GPa to 4 GPa the young's modulus enhancement is seen and the yield strength enhancement is seen up to 28 MPa for the composite from 20 MPa of pure PLA. The impact strength was greatly enhanced from 1.2 J for pure PLA to as high as 4 J for the composite comprising 1.5 wt percentage CNT and 0.5 wt percentage graphene.

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