Fiber Selection for Reinforced Additive Manufacturing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Additive manufacturing (AM) utilizes various fiber reinforcements to enhance polymer matrix composites.
• Understanding fiber properties is crucial for optimizing AM material selection.
• Existing reviews often lack a comprehensive comparison of mechanical and thermal characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey, categorize, and compare mechanical and thermal properties of diverse fibers.
• To aid designers in selecting appropriate fibers for AM applications.
• To provide a foundational understanding of fiber types and their relevance to AM.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of fibers (natural, synthetic, organic, ceramic, mineral) using a Venn diagram.
• Review of fiber production methods and historical/practical uses.
• Comparison of selected fibers based on key mechanical (density, tensile strength, stiffness) and thermal (decomposition temperature, thermal conductivity) properties.
• Discussion of relevant measurement units (denier, tex, yuri).

Main Results:

• Fibers are categorized, with a focus on short-cut types (staple fibers, chopped strands, whiskers) for polymer composites.
• Comparative data on mechanical and thermal properties of individual fibers are presented.
• Successful large-scale 3D printing using fiber reinforcement is highlighted as a case study.

Conclusions:

• Fiber selection for AM requires careful consideration of mechanical and thermal properties.
• This review provides a framework for informed fiber selection in additive manufacturing.
• Optimized fiber reinforcement can significantly improve the bulk properties of 3D printed materials.