Title Structural adhesive bonding between layers in additive manufacturing composites
Authors Mieloszyk, Magdalena ; RimaĊĦauskas, Marius ; Bhadra, Suvam ; Khan, Muhammad Abuzar
DOI 10.1016/j.matdes.2026.116243
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Is Part of Materials and design.. London : Elsevier. 2026, vol. 266, srt. no. 116243, p. 1-12.. ISSN 0264-1275. eISSN 1873-4197
Keywords [eng] Additive manufacturing ; Adhesive joint ; Fibre/ polymer bonding ; Structural integrity ; Temperature ; THz spectroscopy
Abstract [eng] In additive manufacturing (AM) structures, the quality of adhesive bonding between consecutive printing lines and layers is crucial for the structural integrity and mechanical performance of the manufactured elements. This paper analyzes the quality of adhesive bonding in AM carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) produced using a modified material extrusion process (MEX) developed by Kaunas University of Technology. The modification replaces two separate printing heads (for polymer and fiber filaments) with a single head to enhance structural integrity through improved interlayer adhesion, and it also introduces a dedicated fiber preparation procedure prior to printing that affects adhesive bonding quality. Scanning electron microscopy and terahertz spectroscopy were used to evaluate the composites both immediately after manufacturing and after exposure to temperature variations (elevated and sub-zero), and tensile testing was performed on the samples. The analyses focused on the quality of adhesive bonding between printing lines (impregnated carbon fibers) and consecutive layers. The results show that the pre-impregnation process substantially improves the quality of the adhesive joint between the fiber and the matrix. In addition, two polymer types were identified in the AM-produced CFRP: the first, originating from pre-impregnation, covers the carbon fiber, while the second originates from the 3D printing process.
Published London : Elsevier
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2026
CC license CC license description