MORE | Summer 2021

Manufacture of 3D Printed Composite Structures via Multiphase Direct Ink Writing

Although additive manufacturing is a rapid prototyping technology, the printing resolution for most commercial printers are limited to microscales, especially the lack of high-resolution structural control in the case of polymer/nanocomposites. This research study demonstrated the efficient technology for 3D printing nanocomposites using multiphase direct ink writing (MDIW), a printer designed and assembled in-house. By matching the viscosity of the pure PVA solution and PVA/carbon nanotubes solution, layers in the order of 2ⁿ⁺¹ (where n is the number of multipliers in the printing system) are printed and the structure showed the improved strength, modulus, and toughness than the conventional ones.