Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer reinforced polyamide composite for fused filament fabrication

Varying reinforcement concentrations (20–60 wt%) of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) were successfully incorporated into a polyamide (PA) matrix using a dual extrusion process for the manufacture of filament for use in fused filament fabrication (FFF). Rheological analyses were used to select the processing conditions for the dual extrusion process that utilized the supercooling behavior of TLCP and minimized the degradation of PA. The optimum 3D-printing temperature was determined as the temperature yielding the printed component with the best mechanical properties. By combining the dual extrusion process with additive manufacturing, it enabled us to generate TLCP/PA composites having greater stiffness (tensile modulus 24.7 GPa) than 3D printed conventional fiber reinforced composites.