Investigation on Thermal Conductivity of CNF-Reinforced PLA Composites Fabricated Using FDM Technology

Additive Manufacturing (AM) methods, especially Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), have been highly promising for fabricating polymer composites with improved thermal properties. The present study examines the influence of Carbon Nanofiber (CNF) reinforcement on the thermal conductivity of Polylactic Acid (PLA) composites with CNF loading from 1% to 3% by weight. Experimental findings reveal a notable improvement in thermal conductivity, with pure PLA showing a baseline value of 0.185 W/mK. Addition of 1% CNF enhanced thermal conductivity by 27% to 0.235 W/mK, whereas addition of 2% CNF resulted in an improvement of 32.4% to 0.245 W/mK. 3% CNF achieved maximum improvement at 54% to 0.285 W/mK. These enhancements can be related to the high thermal conductivity of CNF and to its function to decrease voids and create conductive paths inside the PLA matrix. The research points out the promising prospects of CNF-strengthened PLA composites for thermal management in electronics, aerospace, and automotive sectors. Major Findings: The study demonstrated that the addition of Carbon Nanofibers (CNFs) to Polylactic Acid (PLA) composites greatly enhanced thermal conductivity, with a maximum increase of 54% at 3% CNF loading to 0.285 W/mK, indicating the material’s potential for heat transfer.