Orientation and Influence of Anisotropic Nanoparticles in Electroconductive Thermoplastic Composites: A Micromechanical Approach

The integration of electrically conductive functionalities into polymer components via additive manufacturing has gained increasing relevance across fields such as sensing, energy storage, and structural electronics. Achieving reliable performance in such applications requires a deeper understanding of how processing conditions affect the internal structure of conductive thermoplastic composites-particularly the orientation and distribution of anisotropic fillers. This study analyzes a PLA-based composite containing carbon nanotubes, carbon black, and graphite flakes to evaluate the influence of extrusion temperature on electrical resistivity and micromechanical properties. To complement scanning electron microscopy, a novel micromechanical mapping approach based on nanoindentation was applied, enabling spatially resolved analysis of local stiffness and hardness. Results show that increasing extrusion temperature improves filler dispersion and alignment, enhancing conductivity and mechanical homogeneity-up to a threshold of 210 °C. Even small temperature changes significantly affect particle orientation and distribution. Unlike global resistivity measurements, the combined use of nanoindentation and microscopic imaging reveals location-specific structural phenomena and filler behavior within the matrix. This newly established method provides high-resolution insight into internal composite architecture and offers a robust foundation for optimizing process-structure-property relationships in conductive polymer systems.