Hybrid 3D Printing of Continuous Carbon Fiber Magneto-Electric Composites for Load Real-Time Sensing and Energy Absorption

Abstract

Continuous carbon fiber (CCF) holds significant promise for many key applications owing to its high strength, high modulus, lightweight, and chemical stability. However, in most research and applications, CCF is primarily used as a load-bearing structural component, and its conductive advantage has not been fully exploited. To further harness the excellent conductivity of CCF and expand their potential applications, this study employs a hybrid 3D printing method to fabricate a series of CCF magneto-electric functional composites with triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) porous structures. Based on the design strategy of TPMS porous structures, this work demonstrates the dynamic impact energy absorption of CCF functional composites, achieving an absorption efficiency greater than 49%. By establishing a correlation between dynamic loads and output electrical signals, dynamic load sensing is achieved, demonstrating a strong linear relationship with an R² value of up to 0.99. The design concept is further applied to the fabrication of a ship hull to absorb wave energy and convert it to the electrical signal. The printed hull is capable of sensing water wave, achieving a peak sensing current of 10 µA. The methods and insights presented in this study offer significant potential for expanding the applications of CCF.