Title: Advances in nanocomposite materials for additive manufacturing

Authors: Vishal Francis; Prashant K. Jain

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Discipline, PDPM Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur, Jabalpur 482005, Madhya Pradesh, India ' Mechanical Engineering Discipline, PDPM Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur, Jabalpur 482005, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a novel technology, only three decades old, which builds parts layer by layer. Production of complex geometries, shorter manufacturing lead time and cost-savings are a few of the advantages among many, which have made AM a major contender in the field of manufacturing. However, the process has its own limitations as each AM process caters only for limited materials. Primarily, polymers were processed; later on composites were developed to enhance the material properties of the parts fabricated. Recently, the advancements in nanotechnology have opened avenues for development of nanocomposites, which exhibit superior material properties when compared with macrocomposites. Attempts have been made by researchers to study the feasibility of processing nanocomposite in various AM processes. The paper presents the current state of the art about the developed nanocomposites for AM processes; also, the effects of nanofillers on mechanical properties of the part build are reviewed.

Keywords: additive manufacturing; nanocomposites; fused deposition modelling; FDM; selective laser sintering; SLS; melting; 3D printing; nanotechnology; nanofillers; mechanical properties; part build; selective laser melting; melt intercalation; rapid manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2015.074804

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 2015 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.215 - 233

Received: 03 Aug 2015
Accepted: 19 Nov 2015
Published online: 19 Feb 2016 *

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