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Additive Manufacturing Of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites, Nicholas M. Denardo

Open Access Theses

Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, encompasses manufacturing processes that construct a geometry by depositing or solidifying material only where it is needed in the absence of a mold. The ability to manufacture complex geometries on demand directly from a digital file, as well as the decreasing equipment costs due to increased competition in the market, have resulted in the AM industry experiencing rapid growth in the past decade. Many companies have emerged with novel technologies well suited to improve products and/or save costs in various industries.

Until recently, the applications of polymer additive manufacturing have been mainly limited to prototyping. …