Innovative Approaches for Manufacturing Epoxy‐Modified Wood and Cellulose Fiber Composites: A Comparison between Injection Molding and 3D Printing

Abstract

The current study focused on improving the properties of polylactic acid (PLA) for wider application in load‐bearing scenarios. Various methods were explored to optimize the interaction between PLA and natural fibers, particularly wood fibers (WFs). Alkalized and epoxy‐impregnated WFs were evaluated against untreated WFs and cellulose fibers in both injection molding (IM) and fused deposition modeling (FDM). FTIR analysis revealed the removal of hemicellulose and lignin in alkalized WFs and uniform epoxy curing. Addition of fibers reduced PLA’s thermal stability while acting as nucleating agents. Additionally, fibers augmented the storage modulus of biocomposites, with alkalized fibers exhibiting the highest tensile modulus in IM. FDM samples with a 0° raster angle showed superior impact resistance compared to IM counterparts. Moreover, raster angle significantly influenced FDM biocomposite properties, enhancing the tensile strength and modulus of untreated WF and cellulose fibers at 0°. Although FDM did not produce alkalized WF samples, epoxy impregnation emerged as a promising method for enhancing PLA/WF composite mechanical properties in the IM process, offering valuable insights for composite material development.