Overprinting high temperature PA on CF/PA6 composites: A microscopic examination of the interface

With the rapid development of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, material extrusion (MEX) has been considered a promising approach to printing complex features onto thermoplastic composites, whilst providing design freedom. Previous studies on the effect of nozzle offset position and layer thickness have been found to significantly affect the mechanical performance. In this study, we offer a more comprehensive understanding of the bonding of overprinted structures examining the overprinting interface via rib-on-plate tension tests, and microscopic and fractographic analyses. The study was performed on high temperature PA6 (PAHT (R)) filament onto thin CF/PA6 composite sheets.