Critical review on short fiber-reinforced composite materials manufactured by material extrusion: from thermal perspective

Similar to other additive manufacturing processes, material extrusion is a thermal energy driven process, and the quality of the bonding, stability of the structure, deformation of the part during deposition as well as after detachment, and also in addition, microstructure of the part relies on the heat supplied by the nozzle. Short fiber addition is a recent technique to enhance the heat transfer process for better quality parts. This paper focuses on the review of the thermal characterization and thermophysical property measurements of the additively manufactured parts, and furthermore, it covers the thermal simulation techniques applied in the area. In addition, the paper discusses the thermal anisotropy of the composite materials inherent to the manufacturing technique itself. Future directions and challenges related to the current materials and technology are also illustrated and discussed in detail.