Magnetic field assisted 3D printing of short carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites

This paper investigates and discusses the outcomes from an ongoing feasibility research being conducted at Advanced Composites Research Focused Group on 3D printing polymers carbon composites subjected to localised magnetic field force lines. Magnetic equipped composite processes are starting become important new development for structural applications. Specific this paper, in-situ alignment of short fibres (∼1 mm length) in thermoplastic polymer filaments (Onyx FR, a Nylon base with micro carbon-fibres flame retardant additive supplied by Markforged) during fused deposition modelling (FDM) based (MakerBot Replicator 2). An experiment took place which samples PLA onyx were printed, both without present. was done see what effects, if any, had flow orientation these materials when printed. The results using high-resolution optical microscopy scanning electron showed that while within Onyx aligned response field, visibly unchanged field. observations have been partially supported theoretical calculations utilizing Multiphysics constitutive equations.