Developing enhanced carbon nanotube reinforced composites for full-scale 3D printed components

Recent research has developed a range of novel nano-enhanced 3D Printer filaments for high-end structural applications. In this research, an enhanced carbon nanotube filament has been formulated with different concentrations of graphitized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. These have been dispersed into an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer matrix under a process of high sheer mixing. This formulation was extruded to form a 1.75 mm diameter filament that was used to 3D print custom full size aerospace components that were later tested and displayed mechanical strength enhancement. In this article the process is detailed which show a method to manufacture 3D printed nanocomposite structures. These polymer filaments can be used on any conventional fused deposition modeling 3D Printing machine for the fabrication of scale components that require mechanical enhancement.