A 3D printing device and process for continuous fiber melt impregnation

Abstract

A continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin melt impregnation 3D printing device and method, using thermoplastic resin as a matrix and continuous glass fiber or carbon fiber as a reinforcement. The 3D printing device includes an extruder, an unwinding roller, a pre-tensioning roller, an infrared radiation device, a gas-assisted swing device, a wire infiltration mold, a cooling device and a 3D printer. The continuous fiber bundle is pre-dispersed through the pre-tensioning roller, and the infrared radiation device preheats the upper and lower surfaces of the continuous fiber. In the infiltration mold, the infiltration process of the resin matrix to the fiber bundle is completed under the action of the wave-shaped flow channel, and is transported forward by the traction of the inner traction roller. After passing through the circular shaping die, it is formed into a continuous fiber that can be used for 3D printing. Prepreg, after cooling, wire feeding, and printing, finally make 3D printing products of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite materials. The invention can realize the uniform dispersion and full impregnation of continuous fibers in the resin matrix, and produce 3D printed continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite products with good interface bonding and excellent performance. At the same time, it can realize continuous fiber consumables and 3D printed composite products. Real-time integrated molding.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention belongs to the field of composite material manufacturing, and in particular relates to a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin melt impregnation 3D printing device and a 3D printing method using the device. Background technique [0002] The traditional single-material molded parts often have poor mechanical properties, and it is difficult to meet the needs of various industries for high-performance materials. In recent years, researchers have combined 3D printing technology with fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites to achieve the purpose of improving the mechanical properties of printed parts, and short fibers are a commonly used reinforcement material because short fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites are relatively simple and Mature manufacturing process. Although parts printed with short fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites can improve their mechanical properties, these properties are only slightly better than...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] At present, the main method of 3D printing using continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin is to directly introduce the continuous fiber bundle into the nozzle of the printer, and the continuous fiber bundle and 3D printing filament are printed through the nozzle of the printer at the same time. The main defect of this technology is The interface between the continuous fiber and the thermoplastic resin matrix is ​​relatively poor, and the fiber bundles are not fully impregnated. This is mainly due to the small and short flow path in the nozzle of the 3D printer, the short residence time of the material in the nozzle, and the lack of sufficient molding pressure. The impregnation effect of the resin matrix on the fiber bundle is relatively poor

This will not give full play to the reinforcing effect of continuous fibers on composite products

There is also a process that separates fiber impregnation and printing. Although the wettability of fibers and resin has been improved, the heating efficiency of solid resin through the prepreg tank is too low, the melting time is too long, and the inner cavity of the prepreg tank is too large. Too much, it is easy to cause the molten resin to stay in the tank for a long time and oxidize and degrade, which affects the performance of composite products

In addition, because there is no pressure device, the impregnation pressure in the tank is relatively low, which is not conducive to impregnating the fiber with the resin matrix, and cannot give full play to the reinforcing effect of the continuous fiber on the composite material. The molding process needs to be further improved

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