Innovative Polymer Composites with Natural Fillers Produced by Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)—A Literature Review

Abstract

In recent years, plastics recycling has become one of the leading environmental and waste management issues. Along with the main advantage of plastics, which is undoubtedly their long life, the problem of managing their waste has arisen. Recycling is recognised as the preferred option for waste management, with the aim of reusing them to create new products using 3D printing. Additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerging and evolving rapid tooling technology. With 3D printing, it is possible to achieve lightweight structures with high dimensional accuracy and reduce manufacturing costs for non-standard geometries. Currently, 3D printing research is moving towards the production of materials not only of pure polymers but also their composites. Bioplastics, especially those that are biodegradable and compostable, have emerged as an alternative for human development. This article provides a brief overview of the possibilities of using thermoplastic waste materials through the application of 3D printing, creating innovative materials from recycled and naturally derived materials, i.e., biomass (natural reinforcing fibres) in 3D printing. The materials produced from them are ecological, widely available and cost-effective. Research activities related to the production of bio-based materials have gradually increased over the last two decades, with the aim of reducing environmental problems. This article summarises the efforts made by researchers to discover new innovative materials for 3D printing.

Innovative Cellular Insulation Barrier on the Basis of Voronoi Tessellation—Influence of Internal Structure Optimization on Thermal Performance

“…In addition, filling the honeycomb block with waste insulation materials significantly improved its insulating properties, reducing the permeability coefficient to a value of 0.53 W/(m 2 ⸱K), or by about 57%. Extensive research in printed insulation materials has been carried out by Anwajler [32][33][34][35][36][37], who studied various variants of polymer composites printed using FDM and SLS technologies (Figures 19 and 20). The researcher analyzed the effects of infill structures and layering of the composites on the insulation parameters.…”

“…Based on a review of the literature and the previous work of one of the authors of this paper [32][33][34][35][36][37], closed-cell foams with different cell structures, different numbers of layers from 1 to 4, and different colors were selected for specific research. The choice of closed-cell foams to study the thermal properties of 3D prints is justified by several key factors, such as the potential for thermal insulation, structural diversity, and the possibility of practical application.…”

Exploring the Future of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Composites with Organic Fillers: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities

“…Adding natural fillers to biodegradable polymer matrices increases the versatility and application possibilities of eco-friendly products. Economic considerations are crucial for manufacturers, but the possibility of changing product properties by varying the amount of filler opens up new applications [68]. Through careful selection of polymer matrix and filler types, content ratios, and size distribution, manufacturers can customize the final properties of these materials to suit a variety of applications.…”

Properties of Heat-Treated Wood Fiber–Polylactic Acid Composite Filaments and 3D-Printed Parts Using Fused Filament Fabrication

“…Fused filament fabrication (FFF), which is also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM), is a popular desktop 3D printer. The main advantages of an FFF printer are the simple structure of the device, low cost, low failure rate, and ease of transportation [ 3 , 4 ]. Additionally, the FFF printer is suitable for use in an office due to its dust-free and low-noise operation.…”