DOI: 10.5176/2251-1857_M318.2
Authors: Tan Jeck Chuang and Low Hong Yee
Abstract: The incorporation of electrical components into 3D printed products such as sensors or printing of circuits requires the use of 3D printable conductive materials. Currently, most conductive materials available for fused filament deposition printing are carbon-based, and do not have sufficiently high conductivity for practical electrical applications. Here, we describe the formulation of a conductive thermoplastic composite comprising of nylon – 6, nickel and Sn95Ag4Cu1, a low melting point metal alloy. The combination of using traditional metals and low melting point metals allows for higher metal loading at lower melt viscosity. Conductivities over 31000 S/m were achieved, and 30 vol. % metal loading was processable with a single screw extruder.
Keywords:conductive polymer composites; low melting point metals; 3D printing; melt mixing
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