Layup sequence and interfacial bonding of additively manufactured polymeric composite: A brief review

Abstract Additively manufactured polymeric composites exhibit customised properties beyond those offered by conventionally fabricated ones. However, in many cases, the mechanical performance mainly depends on the processing parameters, tools, and material selection. Yet, one of the issues of the additive manufacturing process especially in the material extrusion process is the inability to control the printing layups, thereby causing interlaminar damage. Thus far, literature and research have focused on improving the mechanical performance of such polymeric composites by focusing on the interlaminar shear strength under a transverse load transfer. Polymeric composites prepared using the material extrusion technique namely fused deposition modelling (FDM) are discussed upon its layup sequence and orientation. This article proposes that by realising a homogenous distribution of the transverse load, the orientation and the printing direction can maximise the printed load bearing. Moreover, the layup sequence and the interlayer diffusion are key for controlling the mechanical properties of the polymeric composites. This brief review presents a comprehensive elucidation of the polymeric composites manufactured using FDM that interprets the needs of having greater load bearing in each layup printing sequence of the polymeric composites. By able to control the layup sequence, one can control the mechanical performance based on specific functionality.