Impact of CNT addition on Surface Roughness and Dimensional Characteristics of Polymer Nano-Composite Fabricated by FDM method

Abstract Nowadays, companies frequently employ additive manufacturing or 3D printing technologies to check the fitting, shape, and functioning of a planned product preceding design approval and implementation. As additive manufacturing does not require process design, jigs, fixtures, specialized tool path creation, etc., it minimizes the overall manufacturing duration as compared to traditional production. Fused deposition modeling is the kind of additive manufacturing technology that is most frequently employed in the industry. In order for fused deposition modeling to function, extrusion polymer from a nozzle that is preheated between the flow and melting temperature must be deposited layer after layer.The current experimental investigation examines the effect of carbon nanotube addition into the polylactic (PLA) polymer matrix using the fused deposition modeling technique. By combining polylactic acid with carbon nanotubes in the amounts of 0 percent, 0.5 percent, 1 percent, 1.5 percent, and 2 weight percent, an innovative thermoplastic nanocomposite was created. Twin-screw extrusion was employed to create the composite filament. After the successful fabrication of nanocomposites, the effect of varying concentration nanotube addition on the microstructure, surface roughness, and dimensional accuracy of FDM parts was studied. With the incorporation of carbon nanotube, the surface roughness appeared to decrease along the building direction. To comprehend the dispersion of graphene in the PLA matrix and its effects on the study's parameters, these properties were examined.