Additive Manufacturing of Short-Fiber Composites via Stereolithography

Abstract

The effectiveness of using a dual curing system, consisting of a photo and thermal initiator, for the additive manufacturing of carbon fiber short-fiber composites via stereolithography was investigated. The necessary processing parameters were developed that resulted in successful printing and curing of composites at a 5% fiber volume. The effects of layer height and print orientation of the short-fiber composites were evaluated for their effect on the material properties. There was no increase in the flexural modulus or fracture toughness, and a decrease the tensile and flexural strength of the short-fiber composites produced. This was found to be due to weak fiber/matrix interfacial properties, a wide fiber length distribution, and issues with fiber volume consistency. An increase in the tensile modulus was seen and that it could be manipulated with adjustments to layer height and part orientation.