Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2025
08:28
Stereolithographic 3D Printing with Renewable Acrylates
Published on: September 12, 2018
9.5K
Reinforcing Efficiency of Recycled Carbon Fiber PLA Filament Suitable for Additive Manufacturing
Loredana Tammaro1, Alfonso Martone2, Barbara Palmieri2
1Nanomaterials and Devices Laboratory, Department for Sustainability, Sustainability Materials Technology and Processes, ENEA, P.le E. Fermi, 1, 80055 Portici, Italy.
Polymers
|August 10, 2024
Summary
This study demonstrates that 3D printing filaments made from recycled carbon fiber (rCF) and polylactic acid (PLA) offer enhanced structural performance. These sustainable composite materials are suitable for additive manufacturing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Additive Manufacturing
- Sustainable Engineering
Background:
- 3D printing enables sustainable manufacturing using recycled materials.
- Secondary raw materials can be utilized to create advanced composite filaments.
- Polylactic acid (PLA) is a common bioplastic matrix for composite development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural performance of 3D printing composite filaments made from PLA reinforced with recycled carbon fiber (rCF).
- To analyze the influence of rCF content on thermal, mechanical, and microstructural properties.
- To evaluate the suitability of these composites for additive manufacturing.
Main Methods:
- Recycled carbon fibers (rCF) were recovered from industrial scraps via a patented thermal process.
- Thermoplastic composite filaments were produced using PLA and rCF (3-20 wt%) without additional treatments.
- Thermal properties (TGA), mechanical properties (Young's modulus, storage modulus), and microstructure (SEM) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Thermal analysis confirmed residual rCF content aligned with theoretical loading.
- Young's modulus significantly increased below 5 wt% rCF, with diminishing returns at higher concentrations.
- A 54% increase in storage modulus was observed in printed specimens with higher rCF content.
- SEM images revealed unidirectional alignment of rCF along the extrusion flow, indicating effective reinforcement.
Conclusions:
- Homogeneous composite filaments with well-dispersed rCF are suitable for additive manufacturing.
- Recycled carbon fiber reinforcement, even without additives, enhances material properties.
- The topological distribution of rCF significantly impacts mechanical performance, with isolated fibers showing efficient load transfer.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Fiber Reinforced Concrete
71
Fiber-reinforced concrete significantly enhances the structural and nonstructural properties of traditional concrete by incorporating fibers like steel, glass, and polymers. These fibers, varying from natural ones such as sisal and cellulose to manufactured ones like polypropylene and Kevlar, are mixed into hydraulic cement with aggregates. Steel fibers, often preferred for their robustness, contribute to improved ductility, toughness, and post-cracking performance. The concrete is classified...
71
01:25Reinforcements in Concrete
81
Reinforced concrete is a composite material used extensively in construction, combining the compressive strength of concrete with the tensile strength of steel. This synergy is essential as concrete, while excellent at resisting compression, is weak under tension. Steel bars, or rebars, are embedded in the concrete to handle these tensile forces. The choice of steel is strategic; it shares a similar coefficient of thermal expansion with concrete, which ensures uniformity in response to...
81