The Effect of Few-Layer Graphene on the Complex of Hardness, Strength, and Thermo Physical Properties of Polymer Composite Materials Produced by Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D Printing

Materials (Basel). 2023 Jan 29;16(3):1157. doi: 10.3390/ma16031157.

Abstract

The results of studying the effect of particles of few-layer graphene (FLG) synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) on the complex of strength and thermo physical properties of polymer composite products obtained by digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing are presented. It was discovered to achieve an increase in thermophysical and strength parameters of polymers modified by FLG compared with samples made on the unmodified base resin. This result was achieved due to low defectiveness, namely the absence of Stone-Wales defects in the structure of FLG due to the homogeneous distribution of FLG over the volume of the polymer in the form of highly dispersed aggregates. It was possible to increase hardness by 120%, bending strength by 102%, Charpy impact strength by 205%, and thermal conductivity at 25 °C by 572% at concentrations of few-layer graphene of no more than 2 wt. %.

Keywords: 3D printing; Charpy impact strength; DLP; FLG; bending strength; few-layer graphene; hardness; photopolymer resin; thermal conductivity.