Development of Additively Manufactured Continuous Natural Yarn Biocomposites
摘要
The development of additively manufactured (AM) biocomposites reinforced with continuous natural yarns shows great promise for large-scale structural applications. Integrating these natural fibers into the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process presents challenges, such as achieving uniform fiber distribution and ensuring strong adhesion between the fibers and the polymer matrix. Key factors like void content, interfacial properties, and thermal behavior are crucial for the performance and quality of these biocomposites, and a detailed understanding is necessary to enhance their mechanical strength and durability. Various AM techniques have been explored for fabricating continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic biocomposites, each with distinct advantages and limitations. A primary challenge is the effective impregnation of larger yarns with the polymer matrix, essential for optimizing fiber-matrix interaction and mechanical properties. Additionally, continuous natural yarns in AM components emphasize the need for innovative strategies to improve mechanical performance. Due to the constraints of the FFF build area, adhesive joints offer a practical solution for assembling larger elements. These biocomposites exhibit significant potential in such joints, with both mono- and bi-material configurations showing strong bonding strength and durability. This work aims to advance the use of AM with continuous natural yarns for structural applications by exploring mechanical and thermal effects, and optimizing strategies for impregnation, printing paths, and bonded joints. These advancements highlight the viability of continuous natural yarn-reinforced biocomposites as sustainable solutions, addressing performance and environmental concerns.