A Comprehensive Evaluation of Mechanical, Thermal, and Antibacterial Properties of PLA/ZnO Nanoflower Biocomposite Filaments for 3D Printing Application.

Tongsai Jamnongkan,Pongthipun Phuengphai,Amnuay Wattanakornsiri,Chih-Feng Huang,Autchara Pangon,Ornthiwa Jaroensuk,Rattanaphol Mongkholrattanasit,Anchan Khankhuean,Natee Srisawat,Apirat Laobuthee

doi:10.3390/polym14030600

Abstract

Functionalities of 3D printing filaments have gained much attention owing to their properties for various applications in the last few years. Innovative biocomposite 3D printing filaments based on polylactic acid (PLA) composited with ZnO nanoflowers at varying contents were successfully fabricated via a single-screw extrusion technique. The effects of the varying ZnO nanoflower contents on their chemical, thermal, mechanical, and antibacterial properties were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile testing, as well as qualitative and quantitative antibacterial tests, respectively. It was found that the ZnO nanoflowers did not express any chemical reactions with the PLA chains. The degrees of the crystallinity of the PLA/ZnO biocomposite filaments increased when compared with those of the neat PLA, and their properties slightly decreased when increasing the ZnO nanoflower contents. Additionally, the tensile strength of the PLA/ZnO biocomposite filaments gradually decreased when increasing the ZnO nanoflower contents. The antibacterial activity especially increased when increasing the ZnO nanoflower contents. Additionally, these 3D printing filaments performed better against Gram-positive (S. aureus) than Gram-negative (E. coli). This is probably due to the difference in the cell walls of the bacterial strains. The results indicated that these 3D printing filaments could be utilized for 3D printing and applied to medical fields.

Highlights

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We investigated the effects of varying zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflower contents on their chemical, thermal, mechanical, and antibacterial properties using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile tests, as well as qualitative and quantitative antibacterial tests, respectively
We found that the tensile strength of the polylactic acid (PLA)/ZnO biocomposite filaments gradually decreased with increasing ZnO nanoflower contents (Figure 6a)

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Faculty of Industrial Textiles and Fashion Design, Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, Department of Fundamental Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Surindra Rajabhat University, Department of Agriculture and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Surindra Rajabhat. Functionalities of 3D printing filaments have gained much attention owing to their properties for various applications in the last few years. Innovative biocomposite 3D printing filaments based on polylactic acid (PLA) composited with ZnO nanoflowers at varying contents were successfully fabricated via a single-screw extrusion technique. The effects of the varying ZnO nanoflower contents on their chemical, thermal, mechanical, and antibacterial properties were investigated using. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile testing, as well as qualitative and quantitative antibacterial tests, respectively.

Methods

Results

Conclusion