Advancing Structural Integrity: Graphene Nanocomposites via Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing
Abstract
This work examines the utilization of vat photopolymerization (VPP) based digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing to manufacture a novel high strength coupling agent enhanced graphene nanocomposite. The incorporation of graphene, known for its exceptional mechanical properties, aims to improve the strength of 3D printed components. The research methodology involves the formulation of graphene-based resins with different graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) contents varying from 0.025 wt.% to 0.2 wt.%. Key processing parameters like printing layer thickness and exposure time were varied to identify the optimal parameters of the printing process. Moreover, various post-print baking temperatures and durations were examined for the graphene/polymer composites. Mechanical testing and comparative assessments evaluate mechanical properties like tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break. The findings indicate that adding 0.05 wt.% coupling agent enhanced graphene concentration to the polymer, which is a polyamide-like resin, resulted in a notable enhancement in both the ultimate tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the composite by 45.1 % and 43.5 %, respectively. The findings demonstrate the feasibility and potential advantages of utilizing graphene in 3D printed parts, showcasing promising avenues to create lightweight, robust, custom-designed structural applications.