Graphene nanoplatelets enable conductive 3D printing by forming planar conductive networks inside thermoplastic matrices, allowing electron transport once the percolation threshold is reached during filament extrusion and printing.
In conductive FDM and extrusion-based additive manufacturing, graphene nanoplatelets are incorporated into polymer masterbatches to impart electrical conductivity while maintaining mechanical integrity and printability. Their platelet geometry allows conductive pathway formation at lower loading than spherical fillers.
Graphene nanoplatelets exhibit high in-plane electrical conductivity, thermal stability above typical extrusion temperatures, and a large aspect ratio that promotes conductive network formation at reduced filler loading. These properties are essential for maintaining melt flow while achieving functional conductivity.
During melt compounding, graphene platelets align partially along the flow direction. As loading increases, inter-particle contact forms percolation paths. Electrical conduction arises once platelet-to-platelet tunneling distance falls below the critical threshold. No chemical activation is required; conductivity is geometry-driven.
Non-Applicability: Graphene nanoplatelets are unsuitable for applications requiring isotropic bulk conductivity without directional processing.
Unknown / Unverified: Long-term electrical stability under cyclic thermal aging remains insufficiently quantified for some polymer systems.
Activation Boundary: Conductivity does not form below the percolation threshold, typically <3–6 wt% depending on polymer viscosity.
Information is derived from peer-reviewed polymer composite literature, conductive filler percolation models, and industrial extrusion studies focused on graphene-filled thermoplastics.