Developing nanocomposite 3D printing filaments for enhanced integrated device fabrication

In this research, an enhanced carbon nanotube-based filament has been formulated. Three concentrations of 0.5, 0.75 and 1% (wt) graphitized multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been dispersed into an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer matrix under high sheer mixing. This formulation was extruded to form a 1.75-mm-diameter filament that was used to 3D print custom test components that were later tested and displayed both electrical conductivity and mechanical strength enhancement. These nanostructured 3D printing filament formulations were 3D printed to form a series of complex and sophisticated structures. I show how these novel formulations can be used to produce custom and high-performance devices. This advance in nanostructured 3D printing filaments offers a paradigm shift in the 3D printing domain for the fabrication of printed sensors which incorporate nanomaterials and reinforcement in the polymer matrix.