Additive Manufacturing of Self-Sensing Carbon Fiber Composites

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have gained substantial attention across various industries owing to their exceptional mechanical properties and lightweight nature. The emergence of additive manufacturing technologies brings new opportunities to the industry, offering advantages such as design freedom, rapid prototyping, and customization. However, the fabrication of CFRP composites through 3D printing techniques poses challenges pertaining to low resolution and limitations in complex geometry realization. This work introduces digital light processing printing as a versatile, high-resolution method ideal for CFRP composite fabrication. The development and characterization of CFRP are focused on and the manipulation of mechanical properties through variations in matrix resins and fiber loadings is investigated, showcasing the versatility of CFRP composites for tailored applications. Additionally, the integration of self-sensing capabilities in CFRP structures is explored, which opens up opportunities for applications in smart components for automotive and structural health monitoring. This study presents an innovative method for developing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites with specifically tailored mechanical properties through the use of digital light processing 3D printing technology. The research extensively delves into the self-sensing capabilities of these composites, showcasing their potential for deployment in intelligent structural health monitoring applications.image (c) 2023 WILEY-VCH GmbH