K. Fu
University of Delaware Center for Composite Materials,
United States
Keywords: 3D printing, composites
Summary:
While 3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing, it remains limited in leveraging the high-performance properties of composites, particularly the strength of continuous carbon fibers along the longitudinal direction. This seminar will address these limitations, exploring technological gaps in traditional additive manufacturing approaches for composite material fabrication. We will introduce two novel methods—Additive Fiber Molding and Additive Fiber Tethering—that overcome these challenges by enabling precise fiber alignment, enhancing mechanical performance, and creating complex 3D structures unattainable through conventional techniques. Additive Fiber Molding supports intricate fiber architectures, while Additive Fiber Tethering offers a scalable solution for embedding continuous fibers. Additionally, we will highlight a new extrusion-based technology for orienting length-scaled material fillers and advancing nanocomposite 3D printing, enabling functional applications such as energy storage in batteries by combining structural integrity with enhanced electrical and thermal properties. These innovations redefine additive manufacturing, unlocking new opportunities for high-performance composites across advanced industries.