Researchers develop 3D-printed graphene composites for efficient ice control applications
Researchers from Hefei University and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed a novel 3D-printed graphene/polymer double-layer composite featuring high anisotropic thermal conductivity that offers improved photothermal and electrothermal performance for advanced ice control applications.
Graphene is known for its outstanding thermal and electrical conductivity, particularly its strong anisotropy—high in-plane conductivity and much lower through-plane conductivity. To capitalize on this property, the researchers used dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing to directionally align graphene within a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. The resulting double-layer composite, consisting of graphene-enhanced TPU (G-TPU) and neat TPU (N-TPU), achieved an in-plane thermal conductivity of 4.54 W/(m·K), with an anisotropic ratio of about 8.