Influence of Graphene Oxide on Printability, Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Highly Filled Alumina Filaments and Sintered Parts Produced by FFF

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the addition of graphene oxide (GO) on the rheological and mechanical properties of extruded polyamide 12 (PA12) filaments with high aluminum oxide (Al2O3) content used for 3D printing using the fused filament fabrication (FFF) method. Firstly, Al2O3-based mixtures with 0.10, 0.25 and 0.50 vol.% GO content were prepared. These mixtures were dried and subsequently combined with paraffin wax (PW), stearic acid (SA) and polyamide 12 (PA12) in an organic solvent. After drying in a vacuum oven and sifting, powder compositions of 74 wt.% (Al2O3 + GO)/26 wt.% (PA12 + PW + SA) with different GO content were obtained. All compositions were successfully extruded into filaments for 3D printing. Rheological, microstructural and mechanical studies of the compositions and filaments were carried out. X-ray diffraction phase analysis and Raman spectroscopy were also performed. It was shown that 0.10 and 0.25% vol. GO proved to be a universal additive that resulted in an increase in the rheological and mechanical properties of the highly filled polymer and also improved its 3D printability, which ultimately helped obtain a ceramic product with complex shape using the FFF method.

Keywords

• rheological and mechanical properties
• highly filled filaments
• graphene oxide
• Al₂O₃
• 3D printing of ceramic