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Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printing: A Way to Construct 3D Electrically Conductive Segregated Network in Polymer Matrix
Author(s) -
Li Zhichao,
Wang Zhanhua,
Gan Xinpeng,
Fu Daihua,
Fei Guoxia,
Xia Hesheng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201700211
Subject(s) - materials science , thermoplastic polyurethane , composite material , selective laser sintering , percolation threshold , carbon nanotube , electrical conductor , composite number , sintering , electrical resistivity and conductivity , elastomer , engineering , electrical engineering
Abstract Selective laser sintering (SLS), which can directly turn 3D models into real objects, is employed to prepare the flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) conductor using self‐made carbon nanotubes (CNTs) wrapped TPU powders. The SLS printing, as a shear‐free and free‐flowing processing without compacting, provides a unique approach to construct conductive segregated networks of CNTs in the polymer matrix. The electrical conductivity for the SLS processed TPU/CNTs composite has a lower percolation threshold of 0.2 wt% and reaches ≈10 −1 S m −1 at 1 wt% CNTs content, which is seven orders of magnitude higher than that of conventional injection‐molded TPU/CNTs composites at the same CNTs content. The 3D printed TPU/CNTs specimen can maintain good flexibility and durability, even after repeated bending for 1000 cycles, the electrical resistance can keep at a nearly constant value. The flexible conductive TPU/CNTs composite with complicated structures and shapes like porous piezoresistors can be easily obtained by this approach.