3D Printing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Low Melting Point Alloy Matrix Composites: Mechanical Properties and Microstructures

Wang, Xin; Tian, Xiaoyong; Yin, Lixian; Li, Dichen

doi:10.3390/ma13163463

Open AccessArticle

3D Printing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Low Melting Point Alloy Matrix Composites: Mechanical Properties and Microstructures

¹

State Key Laboratory of Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

²

Shaanxi Provincial Rapid Manufacturing Engineering Technology Research Center, Xi’an 710049, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Materials 2020, 13(16), 3463; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163463

Submission received: 12 June 2020 / Revised: 3 August 2020 / Accepted: 3 August 2020 / Published: 6 August 2020

(This article belongs to the Collection Additive Manufacturing: Alloy Design and Process Innovations)

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Abstract

A novel 3D printing route to fabricate continuous fiber reinforced metal matrix composite (CFRMMC) is proposed in this paper. It is distinguished from the 3D printing process of polymer matrix composite that utilizes the pressure inside the nozzle to combine the matrix with the fiber. This process combines the metallic matrix with the continuous fiber by utilizing the wetting and wicking performances of raw materials to form the compact internal structures and proper fiber-matrix interfaces. CF/Pb50Sn50 composites were printed with the Pb50Sn50 alloy wire and modified continuous carbon fiber. The mechanical properties of the composite specimens were studied, and the ultimate tensile strength reached 236.7 MPa, which was 7.1 times that of Pb50Sn50 alloy. The fracture and interfacial microstructure were investigated and analyzed. The relationships between mechanical properties and interfacial reactions were discussed. With the optimized process parameters, several composites parts were printed to demonstrate the advantages of low cost, short fabrication period and flexibility in fabrication of complex structures.

Keywords: 3D printing; wicking performances; metal matrix composites; interfaces

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wang, X.; Tian, X.; Yin, L.; Li, D. 3D Printing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Low Melting Point Alloy Matrix Composites: Mechanical Properties and Microstructures. Materials 2020, 13, 3463. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163463

AMA Style

Wang X, Tian X, Yin L, Li D. 3D Printing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Low Melting Point Alloy Matrix Composites: Mechanical Properties and Microstructures. Materials. 2020; 13(16):3463. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163463

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wang, Xin, Xiaoyong Tian, Lixian Yin, and Dichen Li. 2020. "3D Printing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Low Melting Point Alloy Matrix Composites: Mechanical Properties and Microstructures" Materials 13, no. 16: 3463. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163463

APA Style

Wang, X., Tian, X., Yin, L., & Li, D. (2020). 3D Printing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Low Melting Point Alloy Matrix Composites: Mechanical Properties and Microstructures. Materials, 13(16), 3463. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163463

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3D Printing of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Low Melting Point Alloy Matrix Composites: Mechanical Properties and Microstructures

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