Investigating the Electrical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed PLA/Talc/Graphene Composite Using Taguchi Method and Gray Relational Grade Analysis

This study investigates the electrical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics of Polylactic acid/Talc/Graphene (PLA/Talc/GPN) composites produced using the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process. The process parameters, including talc content, GPN content, print speed, and nozzle temperature, are optimized using the Taguchi method and gray relational grade analysis. Subsequent material characterization is conducted through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and four‐probe electrical tests. Results indicate that incorporating talc and graphene improved the composite's thermal stability. Furthermore, its electrical conductivity was greatest with a specific filler composition of 5 wt% talc and 1 wt% GPN. The findings from the Taguchi analysis revealed that the nozzle temperature and GPN content were the most significant parameters affecting elastic modulus and flexural strength. Subsequently, gray relational grade analysis determined the specific combination of parameters that optimized these properties: a GPN content of 1 wt%, a print speed of 30 mm/s, a talc content of 5 wt%, and a nozzle temperature of 215°C.