Analysis of the Solubility of a Support Filament Made of a Copolymer of Vinyl Alcohol and Butanediol in Aqueous Solutions with Variable pH

Abstract

3D printing is a modern technology that enables the creation of three-dimensional objects from various thermoplastic copolymers. One of the challenges of 3D printing is providing adequate support for complex shapes that may fall apart or deform during the printing process. Traditionally, support materials are used for this purpose, which are difficult to remove after printing and difficult to dispose of. This work focuses on the analysis of the solubility of the BVOH support filament in solutions with different pH values. In particular, the influence of pH on the dissolution time of the BVOH (Butenediol Vinyl Alcohol Co-polymer) copolymer in aqueous solutions and its influence on changes in the PETG base material from which the samples were printed were examined. It was found that the BVOH material combined with PETG is easily soluble in an alkaline environment.