engleski

Mechanical characterization of new functional composites used for 3D printing of static mixers used for water purification

Functional fillers can change the physico-chemical characteristics of polymeric materials and give them photocatalytic capabilities. As a photocatalyst, titanium dioxide (TiO2) can break down organic material when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. To improve the photocatalytic function of the TiO2, carbon nanotubes (CNT) can be added to the TiO2 composites. Comparing the composites to pure polymer matrix, the inclusion of fillers also alters the thermal and mechanical properties of the materials. Using fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing technology, the created composite filament is used to create static mixers on a 3D printer. The objective of this study was to examine how the filler addition affected the mechanical characteristics of composites made of glycolmodified polyethylene terephthalate (PET-G) polymer. The PET-G polymer matrix received additions of the fillers in a variety of ratios. The findings of the tensile test revealed an increase in overall strength and a decrease in the material's elongation at break. Melt flow rate (MFR) data indicated that viscosity decreased with the initial filler addition and plateaued at 2 wt% filler. Thermal property changes were detected by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrate uniform filler distribution throughout the matrix and robust filler-matrix adhesion. The findings point to new functional composites with the right characteristics for 3D printing static mixers for use in tubular reactors.

additive manufacturing, fused filament fabrication, photocatalysis, static mixers

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