Development of fiber-reinforced polylactic acid filaments using untreated/silane-treated trichosanthes cucumerina fibers for additive manufacturing

Abstract

Multi-material additive manufacturing is gaining importance due to the enhancement of properties by utilizing different materials in a single additive process, especially in 3D printing. The prime motive is the need for eco-friendly materials, with the waste-to-wealth concept being the current global trend. Trichosanthes Cucumerina stem fiber, which is obtained from the discarded stem of Trichosanthes Cucumerina plant, is used in this work; the treatment of the Trichosanthes Cucumerina fibers was done using silane. Six filaments were developed with varying untreated/silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina contents (3, 6, and 9%) compared with pure PLA filaments for 3D printing. Developed filaments were assessed for ultimate tensile strength, diameter variation, differential scanning calorimetry, water absorption, morphological and surface roughness. The test results elucidated that the 6% silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina fiber-reinforced/PLA filament had the highest tensile strength of 63.5 MPa with better fiber distribution. The 3% silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina fiber-reinforced/PLA filament had the least diameter deviation of 0.0015 mm. Based on the test data, the 6% silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina fiber-reinforced/PLA filament can be utilized to prepare biodegradable components.

Let’s Print an Ecology in 3D (and 4D)

“…Many other scientists and researchers, such as Hod Lipson, Neil Gershenfeld, Terry Wohlers, Elaine Cohen, and Jean-Claude André, have also made significant contributions, advancing various aspects of 3D printing through their work on specific mathematical modelling techniques. Some current applications involve characterizing the shear thinning behavior of inks by quantifying the degree of shear thinning and using mathematical models to predict the window of printer operating parameters within which Overall, each group of topics concerning 3D printing in an ecological context has the potential to contribute to a more sustainable manufacturing industry by reducing material and energy use and carbon emissions [6,[55][56][57]; conserving resources [7,58,59], repairing and upcycling [56,[60][61][62] and reducing waste generation [63][64][65][66]; facilitating the selection of eco-friendly materials [67][68][69][70][71]; and enabling decentralized and customized production processes [72][73][74], thus contributing to holistic assessments of environmental impacts. In the group of publications related to modelling, there is a significant emphasis on understanding printing conditions and the properties of various printed materials.…”

Various FDM Mechanisms Used in the Fabrication of Continuous-Fiber Reinforced Composites: A Review

“…This is achieved through the layer-by-layer deposition of material. Although this method is not new, its recent popularity among researchers, manufacturers, and hobbyists can be attributed to its time and cost-effectiveness, minimal material waste, reduced emissions, and ability to fabricate various industrial and medical equipment [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. There are several 3D printing processes available, each suitable for different materials.…”

A Comparative study of gray relational analysis and VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje approaches for enhancing mechanical properties and productivity in 3D-Printed copper-filled PLA parts

“…Despite the growing range of applications for thermoplastics in 3D printing, their mechanical properties are still weak compared to those of metals. Composites filaments like copper-filled PLA, 4 fiber-reinforced PLA 5 were developped to improve the limited mechanical properties (strength) of thermoplastics as a solution to this issue. Using such composite filaments requires the application of an optimization approach to better manage (cost, printing time, and geometrical complexity) and take full advantage of their improved mechanical properties.…”