Additive manufacturing has allowed for the production of complex and mass customized geometries, but often at the expense of mechanical performance, a penalty which can be in part mitigated with the fabrication of composite parts. Thermoplastic structures fabricated with material extrusion additive manufacturing stand to be improved in terms of fracture toughness with the integration of continuous fibers. The present research program has investigated the production of a continuously reinforced filament to be used in open-source fused filament fabrication systems. Three different volume fractions of Kevlar fibers were incorporated into a polylactic acid (PLA) thermoplastic filament. It was observed that a 20% fiber volume fraction resulted in a doubling of the tensile strength relative to the unreinforced PLA parts. High-velocity impact tests were also performed on the reinforced printed thermoplastic material, and it was observed that the composite with the highest fiber volume fraction provided an impact energy resistance improved by a factor of four, relative to the plain PLA. The reinforced fibers have shown to restrain the penetration of the projectile at velocities similar to those that perforated the unreinforced PLA. The present work has demonstrated the production of printed composites without the need of modifying the extruding systems of a commercial 3D printer. This approach could represent an alternate and feasible process for producing continuously reinforced 3D-printed thermoplastic parts with utility for high-velocity impact applications.

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are materials capable of changing their structural configuration from a fixed shape to a temporary shape, and vice versa when subjected to a thermal stimulus. The present work has investigated the 3D printing process of a shape memory polymer (SMP)-based polyurethane using a material extrusion technology. Here, SMP pellets were fed into a printing unit, and actuating coupons were manufactured. In contrast to the conventional film-casting manufacturing processes of SMPs, the use of 3D printing allows the production of complex parts for smart electronics and morphing structures. In the present work, the memory performance of the actuating structure was investigated, and their fundamental recovery and mechanical properties were characterized. The preliminary results show that the assembled structures were able to recover their original conformation following a thermal input. The printed parts were also stamped with a QR code on the surface to include an unclonable pattern for addressing counterfeit features. The stamped coupons were subjected to a deformation-recovery shape process, and it was observed that the QR code was recognized after the parts returned to their original shape. The combination of shape memory effect with authentication features allows for a new dimension of counterfeit thwarting. The 3D-printed SMP parts in this work were also combined with shape memory alloys to create a smart actuator to act as a two-way switch to control data collection of a microcontroller.

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, has the potential to enable the development of flexible, wearable and customizable batteries of any shape, maximizing energy storage while also reducing dead-weight and volume. In this work, for the first time, three-dimensional complex electrode structures of high-energy density LiNi_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3O₂(NMC 111) material are developed by means of a vat photopolymerization (VPP) process combined with an innovative precursor approach. This innovative approach involves the solubilization of metal precursor salts into a UV-photopolymerizable resin, so that detrimental light scattering and increased viscosity are minimized, followed by the in-situ synthesis of NMC 111 during thermal post-processing of the printed item. The absence of solid particles within the initial resin allows the production of smaller printed features that are crucial for 3D battery design. The formulation of the UV-photopolymerizable composite resin and 3D printing of complex structures, followed by an optimization of the thermal post-processing yielding NMC 111 is thoroughly described in this study. Based on these results, this work addresses one of the key aspects for 3D printed batteries via a precursor approach: the need for a compromise between electrochemical and mechanical performance in order to obtain fully functional 3D printed electrodes. In addition, it discusses the gaps that limit the multi-material 3D printing of batteries via the VPP process.

Additive manufacturing represents a unique approach to develop three-dimensional shape-conformable batteries with enhanced surface area, ion diffusion, and power. For the first time, a composite photocurable resin loaded with solid particles of active materials and conductive additives was prepared and used as feedstock to print negative electrodes for sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries by means of a vat photopolymerization (VPP) 3D printer. In alignment with NASA’s Artemis mission goals to develop sustainable lunar energy storage infrastructure to support long-term human operations, TiO₂ was selected as an active material for the negative electrode due to its abundance on the lunar surface. The TiO₂ loading in the composite photocurable resin was increased as high as possible to maximize the electrochemical performance of the printed electrodes, while simultaneously ensuring printability and good mechanical strength for sample handling. The effect of thermal post-processing on the electrical, electrochemical, and mechanical performance is reported. A configurational study is implemented to identify the impact of electrode designs (cubic and gyroid) on the electrochemical performance. This work addresses the difficulties related to the introduction of solid particles within a photocurable resin and the need for a compromise between the electrochemical performances and printability to obtain fully functional VPP-printed electrodes.

The production and mechanical properties of fiber metal laminates (FMLs) based on 3D printed composites have been investigated in this study. FMLs are structures constituting an alternating arrangement of metal and composite materials that are used in the aerospace sector due to their unique mechanical performance. 3D printing technology in FMLs could allow the production of structures with customized configuration and performance. A series of continuous carbon fiber reinforced composites were printed on a Markforged system and placed between layers of aluminum alloy to manufacture a novel breed of FMLs in this study. These laminates were subjected to tensile, low velocity and high velocity impact tests. The results show that the tensile strength of the FMLs falls between the strength of their constituent materials, while the low and high velocity impact performance of the FMLs is superior to those observed for the plain aluminum and the composite material. This mechanism is related to the energy absorption process displayed by the plastic deformation, and interfacial delamination within the laminates. The present work expects to provide an initial research platform for considering 3D printing in the manufacturing process of hybrid laminates.