Session: 16-01-07: Polymers and Composites II

Paper Number: 165923

Explore Graphene As Reinforcement in Polymer Based Composite Materials 

Graphene has gained significant attention and enthusiasm in the scientific community for its exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. It consists of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice that contributes to its exceptional strength. In this research, a new and innovative way of incorporating graphene into 3-dimensional printing has been developed. The purpose of this research was to find out whether that method of reinforcing will improve the mechanical properties of components produced from Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). The polymer selected for this research is polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable thermoplastic widely used in FDM 3D printing. 

In this study, test specimens were designed with internal hollow channels, for the purpose of the graphene deposition in these channels. The tensile specimens were designed in accordance with ASTM standards for tensile testing, featuring dimensions of 150 mm in length, 15 mm in width, and 4 mm in thickness. Five hollow channels, each measuring 1.00×1.75 mm, are evenly spaced and positioned along the mid-width, running the entire length of the specimen. All specimens were manufactured using a Bambu Lab X1 Carbon. During the FDM printing process, the print was intentionally paused at a pre-determined layer height where the channels walls were finished being printed, to insert the graphene nano powder. Printing was then resumed and then followed by a heat treatment to improve bonding of the graphene powder with the polymer matrix. The samples were “sandwiched” between two rigid steel plates to avoid any warping due to thermal stress. The heat treatment ended by allowing the samples to cool slowly at room temperature. This approach offers potentially more effective manufacturing method of placing graphene. A total of eighteen samples were manufactured and tested: six graphene-reinforced samples, six unreinforced control samples, and six unreinforced control samples that did not undergo heat treatment. Tensile testing was performed using an Instron tensile testing machine. It provided key values on tensile yield strength, ultimate strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break. The results from the graphene-reinforced samples were analyzed to assess the influence of graphene reinforcement as well as the heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the printed parts.

Unlike conventional approaches where graphene is mixed directly into the polymer during extrusion, this study provides an alternative approach of introducing graphene into a 3D printed part. The findings of this work will demonstrate the mechanical improvement of graphene-reinforced PLA, and if this innovative graphene integration process may have applications in future manufacturing techniques.

Presenting Author: Peyman Honarmandi Manhattan University

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Peyman Honarmandi earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 2007. Following his doctoral studies, he worked as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Mechanical and Bioengineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2010, he joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at the City College of New York as a faculty member. Since 2016, he has served as an Associate Professor at Manhattan University, where he has been instrumental in advancing the Solid Mechanics, Biomechanics and Aerospace concentrations within the Mechanical Engineering Department.
His research focuses on solid mechanics, with a particular emphasis on bioengineering and materials. Dr. Honarmandi has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Additionally, he is an active member of several esteemed engineering societies, such as Sigma Xi, ASME, and SAE, and holds a Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Authors:

Peyman Honarmandi Manhattan University
Paul Alexandre Manhattan University