Experimental Study on Tensile Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Continuous Carbon Fiber Composites

doi:10.3901/JME.2025.11.396

Abstract

Abstract: The mechanical properties of 3D printed continuous carbon fiber (3DPCCF) composites are significantly influenced by printing paths and fiber content. This study investigates three printing paths including the path of the adjacent layers printed parallel to the tensile direction (denoted as 0°/0°), the path of the orthogonal printing (denoted as 0°/90°), and adjacent layers printed orthogonally at a 45° angle to the tensile direction (denoted as 45°/135°), respectirely. Four carbon fiber volume contents (0%, 7.6%, 15.1%, and 22.7%) are considered. All of 32 specimens were studied in the axial tensile tests. The effects of printing paths and carbon fiber volume content on the failure mechanismsand mechanical properties of the 3DPCCF composites are analyzed. The test results indicated that the 0°/0° and 0°/90° specimens exhibited the failure mode of tensile fracture .of fibers without plastic deformation almostly. In contrast, the 45°/135° specimens displayed significant plastic deformation, characterized mainly by interlayer bonding failure. Among the specimens, the 0°/0° group demonstrated the highest tensile strength and elastic modulus, followed by the 0°/90° and 45°/135° groups, in descending order. With the increasing of carbon fiber volume content, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of all groups showed an approximately linear increase. Finally, an expression is established to relate the tensile strength and elastic modulus of 3D printed continuous carbon fiber composites with those of continuous carbon fibers and the matrix material, providing a design reference for the engineering application of 3D printed continuous carbon fiber composites.

Key words: continuous carbon fiber composites, 3D printed, tensile test, printing paths, fiber volume contents

CLC Number:

TU599
TH162

WANG Xinyu, LIU Tianrui, Lü Xinze, WANG Gansheng, YUE Jianguang. Experimental Study on Tensile Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Continuous Carbon Fiber Composites[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 61(11): 396-405.

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