| Abstract Scope |
The orientation of carbon fibers, induced by shear forces during extrusion, has been demonstrated to significantly enhance mechanical properties, albeit primarily in a two-dimensional (2D) x-y plane. In this study, we present a novel approach for achieving fiber alignment in a three-dimensional (3D) context, with an emphasis on the Z-direction, by utilizing embedded 3D printing techniques. This process involves the extrusion and suspension of composite inks within a viscoelastic gel medium. The embedded printing technique enables the creation of complex architectures that exhibit well-known high-strength characteristics, such as the octet lattice structure. Furthermore, by tailoring specific formulations of elastic-gel resin and stiff-ink resin, we generate an elastic core-stiff shell structure featuring covalent adhesion, which concurrently exhibits remarkable strength and toughness properties. |