Investigating the Mechanical Behavior of 3D Printed PLA-Coco Coir Composites

Abstract

It is quite amazing that the use of 3D printing techniques, especially the Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) has delivered such significance in terms of cost reduction, time saver features where a different variety of thermoplastic and composite materials (Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable) are well developed. Different sectors have continually developed natural organic materials that are also both structurally composite in nature. Similarly, the use of different fibers that are abundantly accessible and considered as renewable resources which can be optionally combined with other biodegradable materials is a great challenge through the use of the FDM printing method. The study aims to determine the effect of different particle size and raster angle at a certain fiber concentration which could affect the mechanical properties of the composite by developing a printable composite filament made of Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Coco Coir materials using a filament maker and FDM printer. The composite filament was fabricated and optimized using a twin-screw extruder and 3D Devo Filament maker. 3D printing of samples for mechanical testing was conducted using three (3) raster angles (45o, 60o, and 75o) and various particle sizes of coco coir fiber reinforcement in the PLA matrix. Results showed that the < 74μm particle size of the coco-coir exhibited a 24% and 175% increase in tensile strength and izod impact strength compared to the pure PLA at 60o and 75o raster angles, respectively. Likewise, the reinforcement of <149μm particle size coco coir at 45o raster angle contributes to an increase of 4.8% flexural and 176% compressive strength compared to pure PLA. The study concludes that there is an improvement in the mechanical properties of the PLA-Coco Coir composite at a certain particle size and raster angle in 3D printing.