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April 25, 2026Materials & Design0 citationsOpen Access

Morphology-dependent electrical response of -foamed conductive TPU filaments fabricated by foam additive manufacturing

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LGLuigi Davide GalaFPFederico ParentiCCCarlotta Ragazzo Capello

Key Points

  • The aim is to explore how processing parameters affect the morphology and electrical properties of conductive TPU foams.
  • Foam Additive Manufacturing was utilized for fabricating conductive TPU foams.
  • Processing parameters like nozzle temperature and printing velocity were controlled to influence filament structure.
  • Image analysis assessed porosity and its effect on resistivity.
  • Normalizing resistivity revealed a direct correlation between foam structure and charge transport behavior.
  • Electrical conductivity demonstrated an ohmic response across all tested conditions.
  • Conductive TPU filaments achieved an optimal balance of elasticity and functionality for wearable applications.

Abstract

The integration of lightweight, conductive, and mechanically compliant materials is essential for the development of next-generation wearable and flexible electronic systems. Conductive foamed polymers, in particular, offer a promising route to combine low density with tailored electrical functionality, yet process control remains challenging. This work demonstrates a practical and scalable route to fabricate electrically conductive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foams by Foam Additive Manufacturing (FAM) which combining the process of absorption with fused-filament foam printing (FFF). The present study systematically explores how processing parameters govern filament expansion, cell structure, and porosity, and how these morphological features influence electrical and mechanical behavior. The approach yields well-defined microcellular architectures with morphology-driven modulation of electrical conductivity, while preserving ohmic response across all conditions. Normalizing the resistivity enables to demonstrate a direct correlation between the foam structural feature and charge transport behavior. This approach offers a reproducible framework for tailoring the conductive performance through a controlled foaming process. The resulting filaments demonstrate a balanced combination of elasticity and electrical functionality, offering interesting perspectives for the development of wearable smart devices. • Foam Additive Manufacturing enables tunable morphology and resistivity in conductive Thermoplastic Polyurethane, controlling nozzle temperature and printing velocity. • Resistivity of foamed filaments can be tuned by one scale; ohmic response maintained. • Image analysis and porosity-corrected resistivity link structure with conductivity. • Light, elastic, and conductive filaments are ideal for wearable electronics.

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Cite This Study

Gala et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69ec5ac988ba6daa22dac59chttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2026.116091
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