(118b) Microwave Induced Heating of Carbon Nanotubes Localized at 3D-Printed Thermoplastic Interfaces
AIChE Annual Meeting
2017
2017 Annual Meeting
Materials Engineering and Sciences Division
Multifunctional Composites
Monday, October 30, 2017 - 2:30pm to 2:45pm
A key obstacle facing 3D-printed plastic parts in engineering applications is the weak weld between successive filament traces, which often leads to delamination and mechanical failure. Here we report a novel concept for welding 3D-printed thermoplastic interfaces using microwave irradiation to induce intense heating of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated on filament interfaces. The microwave heating of the CNT-polymer composites are a function of both frequency and the CNT percolation threshold, as shown through in situ infrared imaging and simulation. We apply ink-coating (and/or coaxial extrusion) to deposit a dispersed CNT film at the interface of the filament; we then print the coated filaments such that CNTs are localized between each trace. Microwave irradiation induces polymer mobility at the interface and substantially improves the weld fracture strength. These results open up new design spaces for additive manufacturing and also yield new insight into the coupling between CNT network percolation and RF field heating response.