Research progress of carbon materials in the field of three-dimensional printing polymer nanocomposites

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is an additive manufacturing technology designed to rapidly process and manufacture complex geometrical components based on computer model design. Based on a 3D data model, materials are accumulated layer by layer through computer control, and the 3D model is finally turned into a stereoscopic object. Compared with traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing technology has the advantages of saving man-hours, easy operation, no need for molds, and strong controllability of component geometry. With the development of this technology, according to the core materials and equipment and other elements of the printing molding technology, several types of 3D printing technologies such as fused deposition modeling, selective laser sintering, stereolithography, and solvent cast-3D printing have gradually formed. This review focuses on the principles and characteristics of several of the most representative 3D printing molding processes. And based on carbon nanomaterial (carbon fibers, graphene, and carbon nanotubes) reinforced polymer composite materials, the research progress of different 3D printing molding processes in recent years is reviewed. At the same time, the commercial application of 3D printing molding process in this field is analyzed and prospected.