MUMBAI, India, Oct. 5 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641114369 A) filed by Vallurupalli Nageswara Rao Vignana Jyothi Institute Of Engineering And Technology on September 24, 2026, for An Electrically Conductive Hybrid Pla Nanocomposite Filament Comprising Mwcnts And Graphene For Fused Deposition Modeling.
Inventor includes Dr. V V D Sahithi.
The application for the patent was published on October 02, 2026, under issue no. 40/2026.
Abstract: ABSTRACT [0051] The rapid evolution of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) has driven the demand for multi-functional polymer composites. This project develops novel, electrically conductive nanocomposite filaments tailored for improved electrical conductivity and structural applications. We formulated seven binary and ternary hybrid nanocomposites using a Polylactic Acid (PLA) matrix, incorporating Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs: 1%, 3%, 5%) alongside 0.5% loadings of Copper, Zinc Ferrite (ZnFe2O4), and Graphene Platelets. To ensure homogeneous dispersion, an advanced solvent-casting methodology was utilized. PLA was dissolved in chloroform, combined with fillers, and subjected to vigorous magnetic stirring and ultrasonic sonication. The composite solutions were sun-dried, mechanically pelletized, and thermally extruded into uniform 1.75 mm filaments. Experimental validation via electrical impedance and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the 5 wt% MWCNT formulation achieved an optimal, structurally intact percolation network (ID/IG = 0.627). The addition of 0.5% Graphene synergistically enhanced this architecture by bridging the nanotube gaps, whereas FESEM and EDS analyses confirmed that metallic and ceramic nanoparticles agglomerated, disrupting electrical pathways through steric hindrance. Furthermore, DSC testing demonstrated that all embedded nanomaterials acted as highly active heterogeneous nucleating agents, lowering crystallization temperatures and modifying polymer chain mobility. Ultimately, this research establishes an optimized hybrid PLA framework to expand the functional capabilities of standard FDM materials.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
