Abstract
The scope of this work was to create, with melt mixing compounding process, novel nanocomposite filaments with enhanced properties that industry can benefit from, using commercially available materials, to enhance the performance of three-dimensional (3D) printed structures fabricated via fused filament fabrication (FFF) process. Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were selected as fillers for a polylactic acid (PLA) thermoplastic matrix at various weight % (wt.%) concentrations, namely, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 wt.%. Tensile, flexural and impact test specimens were 3D printed and tested according to international standards and their Vickers microhardness was also examined. It was proven that SiO2 filler enhanced the overall strength at concentrations up to 1 wt.%, compared to pure PLA. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to investigate the produced nanocomposite extruded filaments roughness. Raman spectroscopy was performed for the 3D printed nanocomposites to verify the polymer nanocomposite structure, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed the 3D printed samples’ thermal stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out for the interlayer fusion and fractography morphological characterization of the specimens. Finally, the antibacterial properties of the produced nanocomposites were investigated with a screening process, to evaluate their performance against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
Highlights
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a commonly used bio-based polymer at a wide range of applications
PLA composites with fillers such as micro-scale fibers, nano- or micro-scaled additives have been suggested for implementation in medical devices [3], in the construction sector [4] and many applications requiring advanced mechanical and thermal properties [5,6,7], or even with specific dielectric behavior, with the addition of appropriate fillers [8]
The developed inhibition zone was wider in the Staphylococcus aureus (Figure 6h) and narrower in the Escherichia coli bacteria (Figure 6d), while no inhibition zone was observed in lower filler concentrations
Summary
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a commonly used bio-based polymer at a wide range of applications. PLA composites with fillers such as micro-scale fibers, nano- or micro-scaled additives have been suggested for implementation in medical devices [3], in the construction sector [4] and many applications requiring advanced mechanical and thermal properties [5,6,7], or even with specific dielectric behavior, with the addition of appropriate fillers [8]. A wide range of materials have been reported as fillers in a PLA matrix, in order to endow specific properties or to enhance existing ones. In concrete industry, crystalline SiO2 is widely applied in the shape of aggregates and smaller sized fillers. As amorphous SiO2 it is used to accelerate cement hydration [10,11] and tailor 3D printing properties [12]
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