Electrical Resistivity of 3D-Printed Polymer Elements

Abstract

During this study, the resistivity of electrically conductive structures 3D-printed via fused filament fabrication (FFF) was investigated. Electrical resistivity characterisation was performed on various structural levels of the whole 3D-printed body, starting from the single traxel (3D-printed single track element), continuing with monolayer and multilayer formation, finalising with hybrid structures of a basic nonconductive polymer and an electrically conductive one. Two commercial conductive materials were studied: Proto-Pasta and Koltron G1. It was determined that the geometry and resistivity of a single traxel influenced the resistivity of all subsequent structural elements of the printed body and affected its electrical anisotropy. In addition, the results showed that thermal postprocessing (annealing) affected the resistivity of a standalone extruded fibre (extruded filament through a printer nozzle in freefall) and traxel. The effect of Joule heating and piezoresistive properties of hybrid structures with imprinted conductive elements made from Koltron G1 were investigated. Results revealed good thermal stability within 70 °C and considerable piezoresistive response with a gauge factor of 15–25 at both low 0.1% and medium 1.5% elongations, indicating the potential of such structures for use as a heat element and strain gauge sensor in applications involving stiff materials and low elongations.