Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material Extrusion

Multi-material additive manufacturing offers new design freedom for functional integration and opens new possibilities in innovative part design, for instance, a local integration of electrically conductive structures or heat radiant surfaces. Detailed experimental investigations on materials with t...

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Main Authors: Hagen Watschke, Karl Hilbig, Thomas Vietor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/4/779
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author Hagen Watschke
Karl Hilbig
Thomas Vietor
author_facet Hagen Watschke
Karl Hilbig
Thomas Vietor
author_sort Hagen Watschke
collection DOAJ
description Multi-material additive manufacturing offers new design freedom for functional integration and opens new possibilities in innovative part design, for instance, a local integration of electrically conductive structures or heat radiant surfaces. Detailed experimental investigations on materials with three different fillers (carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nano copper wires) were conducted to identify process-specific influencing factors on electrical conductivity and resistive heating. In this regard, raster angle orientation, extrusion temperature, speed and flow rate were investigated. A variation of the raster angle (0°, ±45°, and 90°) shows the highest influence on resistivity. An angle of 0° had the lowest electrical resistance and the highest temperature increase due to resistive heating. The material filled with nano copper wires showed the highest electrical conductivity followed by the CNT filled material and materials filled with CB. Both current⁻voltage characteristics and voltage-dependent heat distribution of the surface temperature were determined by using a thermographic camera. The highest temperature increase was achieved by the CNT filled material. The materials filled with CB and nano copper wires showed increased electrical resistance depending on temperature. Based on the experiments, solution principles and design rules for additively manufactured electrically conductive structures are derived.
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spelling doaj.art-00d1b99b01ba4896ad29049c5a1f721e2022-12-22T02:43:58ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172019-02-019477910.3390/app9040779app9040779Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material ExtrusionHagen Watschke0Karl Hilbig1Thomas Vietor2Institute for Engineering Design, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Brunswick, GermanyInstitute for Engineering Design, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Brunswick, GermanyInstitute for Engineering Design, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Brunswick, GermanyMulti-material additive manufacturing offers new design freedom for functional integration and opens new possibilities in innovative part design, for instance, a local integration of electrically conductive structures or heat radiant surfaces. Detailed experimental investigations on materials with three different fillers (carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nano copper wires) were conducted to identify process-specific influencing factors on electrical conductivity and resistive heating. In this regard, raster angle orientation, extrusion temperature, speed and flow rate were investigated. A variation of the raster angle (0°, ±45°, and 90°) shows the highest influence on resistivity. An angle of 0° had the lowest electrical resistance and the highest temperature increase due to resistive heating. The material filled with nano copper wires showed the highest electrical conductivity followed by the CNT filled material and materials filled with CB. Both current⁻voltage characteristics and voltage-dependent heat distribution of the surface temperature were determined by using a thermographic camera. The highest temperature increase was achieved by the CNT filled material. The materials filled with CB and nano copper wires showed increased electrical resistance depending on temperature. Based on the experiments, solution principles and design rules for additively manufactured electrically conductive structures are derived.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/4/7793D printingmaterial extrusionmulti-material additive manufacturingmaterial characterizationelectrical resistivityheat radiation
spellingShingle Hagen Watschke
Karl Hilbig
Thomas Vietor
Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material Extrusion
Applied Sciences
3D printing
material extrusion
multi-material additive manufacturing
material characterization
electrical resistivity
heat radiation
title Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material Extrusion
title_full Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material Extrusion
title_fullStr Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material Extrusion
title_full_unstemmed Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material Extrusion
title_short Design and Characterization of Electrically Conductive Structures Additively Manufactured by Material Extrusion
title_sort design and characterization of electrically conductive structures additively manufactured by material extrusion
topic 3D printing
material extrusion
multi-material additive manufacturing
material characterization
electrical resistivity
heat radiation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/4/779
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AT karlhilbig designandcharacterizationofelectricallyconductivestructuresadditivelymanufacturedbymaterialextrusion
AT thomasvietor designandcharacterizationofelectricallyconductivestructuresadditivelymanufacturedbymaterialextrusion