Abstract
This study presents a novel high-temperature solid epoxy system and investigates its use for 3D printing of continuous carbon fibre reinforced thermoset composites. The solid epoxy system was formulated using a mixture of novolak epoxy resin and amine hardener. It was deposited on the continuous carbon fibres to produce impregnated filament, which was then used for fused filament fabrication (FFF) based 3D printing, followed by a curing process. The resulting printed composite exhibited a high glass transition temperature (Tg) of 279.24 °C, along with a longitudinal tensile strength of 1006 MPa and a flexural strength of 431.8 MPa, making it suitable for high-temperature load-bearing applications. Additionally, a lightweight honeycomb composite structure was printed and cured in a 3D printed bespoke mould made from a high-temperature thermoplastic composite material. The final cured part demonstrated excellent thermal stability under isothermal loading at 200 °C, showcasing the potential of this system for advanced structural applications in aerospace and related fields.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 102397 |
| Journal | Composites Communications |
| Volume | 56 |
| Early online date | 5 Apr 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 5 Apr 2025 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- 3D printing
- Continuous carbon fibre
- Solid epoxy
- Thermoset composite