Multiscale characterisation of the electrical response of 3d printed carbon black polylactic acid

Abstract

In this paper, the electrical response of a carbon black polylactic acid 3D printed polymer is characterised in detail by a combination of advanced experimental techniques at different scale lengths. The electrical properties as a function of the temperature become repeatable after the second heating cycle, exhibiting different trends as a function of the printing parameters. Joule heating and oven-heating techniques have been compared, showing the advantages of the Joule heating method to maintain electrical conductivity due to the lower thermal inertia. Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering has been employed to discern the underlying physics, showing the crucial role of crystallinity, filler dispersion and carbon black aggregates to form an effective segregated conductive network.