Optimization of FDM for Fabrication of PLA-HAp-CS Based Functional Prototypes/Scaffolds Using Matrix Co-Relation

Abstract

In past two decades number of studies has been reported on 3D printing of different thermoplastic composite matrixes for scaffolding applications. But hitherto little has been reported on 3D printing of polylactic acid (PLA) matrix reinforced with bioactive polymer chitosan (CS) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) by using fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. This study is focused on the preparation of functional prototypes (as scaffolds) by using HAp and CS as reinforcement in the PLA matrix. Based on reported literature different compositions/proportions of PLA-HAp-CS were selected and feedstock filament has been prepared using twin screw extrusion (TSE). The fabricated feedstock filaments were used on FDM for the printing of biomedical scaffolds (with input parameters as layer thickness, deposition angle and infill density). The tensile and tests of functional prototypes were performed on a universal tensile tester (UTT). Finally, a co-relationship matrix has been generated for different outputs for a better understanding of results.