Production and Assessment of Poly(Lactic Acid) Matrix Composites Reinforced with Regenerated Cellulose Fibres for Fused Deposition Modelling

Abstract

Additive manufacturing can be a valuable tool to process polymeric composites reinforced with bio-based fibres, extending their use and opening new opportunities for more environmentally friendly materials. In this work, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites reinforced with regenerated cellulose fibres (lyocell) were processed into novel filaments and used for 3D printing. The Young’s modulus of the filaments increased with the addition of fibres, but substantial porosity was observed in formulations with 20 and 30 wt% of fibre content. Nonetheless, the composites were easily printed, and the formulation with 10 wt% of fibres presented the best tensile properties of 3D printed samples with average tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and strain at break of 64.2 MPa, 4.56 GPa, and 4.93%, respectively. It has been shown in this study that the printing process contributes to fibre alignment with small variations depending on the printing speed. Printed composite samples also had superior thermo-mechanical stability with a storage modulus up to 72 times higher than for neat PLA at 80 °C after the composite samples were heat-treated. In general, this work supports the potential use of regenerated cellulose fibres to reinforce PLA for 3D printing applications.

Development of biodegradable filaments based on agro‐industrial waste and evaluation of process parameters in final properties

“…The voids were generated by the incompatibility between the filler and the polymeric matrix, thus hindering polymer diffusion to complete fill the spaces between layers. Also, the filler may be displaced during deposition of the molten material caused by shear forces of the printing nozzle, thus impairing the deposition in some points (orange ellipse) 17,65,66 …”

“…Also, the filler may be displaced during deposition of the molten material caused by shear forces of the printing nozzle, thus impairing the deposition in some points (orange ellipse). 17,65,66 Balla et al (2020) 18 developed composites for 3D FDM printing using thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) and soybean shell fibers. The authors evaluated the morphology of the samples printed by SEM and identified that the high viscosity of the TPC produced a displacement or improper connection between the grains of the soybean shell fiber and the polymer matrix.…”

Cellulosic Textiles—An Appealing Trend for Different Pharmaceutical Applications

“…In 2022, Gauss et al [ 180 ] explored the use of regenerated cellulose fibers (lyocell) in additive manufacturing to process poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites for 3D printing. Composite filaments of PLA reinforced with lyocell fibers were successfully produced for fused deposition modelling.…”

The Effects of Microcrystalline Cellulose Addition on the Properties of Wood–PLA Filaments for 3D Printing

“…It is one of the most versatile biopolymers found in nature. Its use is now moving from sustainability-oriented development to technical solutions for a wide range of applications [ 8 ].…”

“…In most studies, nanocellulose was used as reinforcing material, with the content varying between 1 and 40%. Improvements of up to 84% in tensile strength [ 22 ] and 190% in stiffness were reported [ 8 ]. In some cases, the addition of cellulose had no positive effect on the mechanical properties.…”