Nanomaterial Ink Coating for Functional 3D-printed Parts

Nanocomposites have many useful and functional properties, yet additive manufacturing has only recently begun to take advantage of many of these properties due to the difficulties with printing nanomaterials at regular extrusion temperatures. This work details a nanomaterial ink coating method for 3D printer filament to produce functional 3D-printed parts. Also discussed are limiting parameters for proper processing of material without inhomogeneities or clogging, which are common in such high temperature and shear rate processes. This method allows 3D-printed parts to have full functionality that is not possible with conventional 3D printing methods, only previously simulated by surface modification. The use of a rheometer, four-point probe, and 3D printer are employed to print and analyze functional precursor inks, printer processing, and printed parts. To obtain the maximum cost-effectiveness and property enhancement, maximum loading parameters are shown to prevent heterogeneity of carbon nanotubes in the part, which leads to property degradation and printer malfunction. Our method, which represents a large advance in additive manufacturing technology, is applicable to seemingly all nanomaterials capable of withstanding typical extrusion temperatures to give functional parts for easy fabrication. Keywords: nanocomposite, additive manufacturing, nanofiller, 3D printing, extrusion, functional properties, thermal processing, fused deposition modeling, functional materials