Rice Husk with PLA: 3D Filament Making and Additive Manufacturing of Samples for Potential Structural Applications

Developing a stiffness-toughness balance, low-cost, and biodegradable PLA composite is an effective strategy for improving product market competitiveness, reducing dependence on petroleum-based resources and protecting the environment. Rice husk (RH) is extensively used as a filler in polymers, but the addition of too much rice husk into PLA has damaged the toughness of the composite. In this work, fully biodegradable composites with a stiffness-toughness balance and low cost are successfully fabricated through melt blending of PLA, RH and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). The results show that bio-based plasticizer ATBC can improve the flowability of PLA composites, further enhancing their processability, which promotes the dispersion of RH in PLA. The impact strength and elongation at break of PLAC20 reach the value of 100 J/m and 148%, achieving an increase of 4.3 and 60.1 times compared with PLAC0, respectively. The torque rheological test shows that the maximum torque and equilibrium torque arrive 25.3 N/m and 2.3 N/m, and are about 67.4% and 63.5% lower than those for PLAC0 after incorporation of 18 phr ATBC, respectively, indicating a significant improvement in processing performance. As the ATBC amount increases, the water absorption rate of the composite progressively rises, while the contact angle steadily diminishes, resulting in the improvement for hydrophilicity, thereby broadening its potential applications.

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Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites Fabricated with Copper Nanoparticles and Photopolymer Resin via Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing

Gil,

Monteiro,

Colorado

2024

Polymers

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This investigation explores the fabrication of polymer matrix nanocomposites via additive manufacturing (AM), using a UV photopolymerization resin and copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) with vat photopolymerization 3D printing technology. The aim in this study is to investigate the mentioned materials in different formulations in terms of inexpensive processing, the property related variability, and targeting multifunctional applications. After the AM process, samples were post-cured with UV light in order to obtain better mechanical properties. The particles and resin were mixed using an ultrasonicator, and the particle contents used were 0.0, 0.5, and 1.0 wt %. The process used in this investigation was simple and inexpensive, as the technologies used are quite accessible, from the 3D printer to the UV curing device. These formulations were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe the materials’ microstructure and tensile tests to quantify stress–strain derived properties. Results showed that, besides the simplicity of the process, the mixing was effective, which was observed in the scanning electron microscope. Additionally, the tensile strength was increased with the UV irradiation exposure, while the strain properties did not change significantly.

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Rice Husk with PLA: 3D Filament Making and Additive Manufacturing of Samples for Potential Structural Applications

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

Simultaneously improving toughness and strength for biodegradable Poly (lactic acid) modified by rice husk and acetyl tributyl citrate

Simultaneously improving toughness and strength for biodegradable Poly (lactic acid) modified by rice husk and acetyl tributyl citrate

Simultaneously improving toughness and strength for biodegradable Poly (lactic acid) modified by rice husk and acetyl tributyl citrate

Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites Fabricated with Copper Nanoparticles and Photopolymer Resin via Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing

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