Investigation of Thermal, Mechanical and Shape Memory Properties of 3D-Printed Functionally Graded Nanocomposite Materials

In this study, a 3D-printed photocurable resin was developed by incorporating graphene nanoplatelets functionalised with melamine to investigate the thermal, mechanical, fracture and shape memory behaviours. The objective of this work was to produce a printed functionally graded nanocomposite material that has a smart temperature-responsive structure; presents good thermal stability, strength and fracture toughness; and can demonstrate shape-changing motions, such as sequential transformations, over time. The functionalised graphene nanoplatelets were examined via thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the degradation temperature of the nanocomposite containing 0.1 wt% of functionalised graphene nanoplatelets at the weight loss of 5% was 304 degrees C, greater than that of the neat one by 29%. Dynamic mechanical analysis results showed property enhancements of the storage modulus and glass transition temperature. Fracture toughness, tensile strength and impact resistance were improved by 18%, 35% and 78%, respectively. The shape memory tests were performed to obtain the temperature-time recovery behaviour of the 3D-printed structures. The addition of functionalised graphene nanoplatelets demonstrated an enhancement in the shape recovery ratios. Generally, the five subsequent cycles were notably stable with a high recovery ratio of 97-100% for the flat shape and circular shape of the M-GNP specimens. On the other hand, these values were between 91% and 94% for the corresponding neat specimens.