Significant research progress in carbon fiber PEEK composite FDM 3D
In 2019, the research team from the Space Application Engineering and Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences used the high-performance material 3D printer FUNMAT HT of INTAMSYS to carry out systematic research on the 3D printing process of the self-developed carbon fiber PEEK composite material, and achieved important scientific research progress. The related results are published in the internationally renowned journal “Polymers” under the title “Flexural Properties and Fracture Behavior of CF/PEEK in Orthogonal Building Orientation by FDM: Microstructure and Mechanism”. Ph.D. student Li Qiushi is the first author and Zhao Wei is an assistant researcher. Wang Gong researcher is the author of the research paper.
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a thermoplastic polymer with high strength, high temperature resistance and chemical resistance. It has a significant impact on the 3D printing industry. Currently, polyetheretherketone has been used in the manufacture of 3D printed satellites, 3D printed automotive parts, and human implants, and may be involved in other fields in the future. In PEEK 3D printing technology, similar to most non-metallic materials, the Z-direction interlayer bonding force of the FDM process to make prints is much lower than the X and Y directions, which is considered to be one of the important factors limiting its application.
Zhao Wei and Li Qiushi and other scholars studied the effect of vertical printing direction on the bending properties of carbon fiber polyetheretherketone 3D printing products by doping carbon fiber into the wire and using the far-casting intelligent FUNMAT HT machine. The strip has excellent mechanical properties and a flexural strength of 146 MPa. Importantly, it also has a nearly uniform bending strength with conventional injection molded parts.
Our Chinese manufacturer IKSONIC found that the introduction of carbon fiber not only improved the rigidity of the printed part, but also made the crystallinity more uniform. At the same time, it analyzed the carbon fiber introduction and printing direction for the microstructure of the printed part and the force fracture mode of the printed part. Conducive to the manufacture of large parts. At the same time, it can be observed that using the INTAMSYS 3D printer to change the printing direction and printing parameters, in addition to the excellent mechanical properties of the print, it also has a smooth surface.
In summary, this study proposes a universal method for preparing PEEK prints that meet a variety of stress conditions. This method provides a new idea for preparing large prints by adjusting other doping components, printing orientation and microstructure. With the use of INTAMSYS 3D printer and INTAMSUITE software, PEEK carbon fiber materials have greater space adaptability and more functionality. The prepared PEEK prints are expected to be obtained in high temperature industrial parts, automotive aerospace and other fields. Further application.