Materials Characterization of Short Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite Fabricated via 3D Stereolithography
Location
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing (CEC)
Session Format
Oral Presentation
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Dr. Mahmoud Baniasadi, Faculty Advisor
Abstract
Additive manufacturing of composite materials has been an area of increasing importance in the new manufacturing era. To enhance the mechanical performance of materials produced through this method, various types of filler materials have been studied and implemented. Most commonly, the introduction of dispersed carbon fibers within a photopolymer resin matrix in vat polymerization offers the potential to substantially increase the strength and toughness of these materials. In the case of dispersed short carbon fibers, fiber dispersion and orientation in the resin matrix as well as fiber surface adhesion critically effects the overall strength of the material. In this study, the surface of the short carbon fibers (SCF) has been chemically functionalized to achieve homogeneous dispersion in commercially available PLA UV-curable resin at various weight ratios. The resin mixture (resin and SCF) was used on an SLA-LCD 3D printer to fabricate various samples. Material characterization of the samples is performed through optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to better understand the fiber-matrix interactions before and after the curing process.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Ligget, Chandler, "Materials Characterization of Short Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite Fabricated via 3D Stereolithography" (2021). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 81.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2021/2021/81
Materials Characterization of Short Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite Fabricated via 3D Stereolithography
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing (CEC)
Additive manufacturing of composite materials has been an area of increasing importance in the new manufacturing era. To enhance the mechanical performance of materials produced through this method, various types of filler materials have been studied and implemented. Most commonly, the introduction of dispersed carbon fibers within a photopolymer resin matrix in vat polymerization offers the potential to substantially increase the strength and toughness of these materials. In the case of dispersed short carbon fibers, fiber dispersion and orientation in the resin matrix as well as fiber surface adhesion critically effects the overall strength of the material. In this study, the surface of the short carbon fibers (SCF) has been chemically functionalized to achieve homogeneous dispersion in commercially available PLA UV-curable resin at various weight ratios. The resin mixture (resin and SCF) was used on an SLA-LCD 3D printer to fabricate various samples. Material characterization of the samples is performed through optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to better understand the fiber-matrix interactions before and after the curing process.
