The effect of filler addition on polypropylene (PP) composites was studied using homogenization theory for scale coupling and multiscale finite element analysis. Two types of fillers were examined, including talc, which is widely used in the automotive industry, and cellulose nanofiber, a sustainable material of increasing interest. Through the homogenization process, the influence of filler content on the thermophysical properties of the PP composites was evaluated, with a particular focus on reducing thermal deformation during 3D printing using fused filament fabrication (FFF). The results indicated that filler addition enhanced thermal conductivity and reduced the coefficient of linear thermal expansion. Furthermore, experiments confirmed that filler incorporation helped suppress warpage during the 3D printing process.
Yamamoto et al. (Wed,) studied this question.