Production of nanocomposite based on PETG, manufactured by 3D printing, to combat the Sars-Cov-2 virus

Abstract

With the collapse of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary to explore new materials with resistance to SARS- CoV-2 of lower cost and effective and easy production methods, such as 3D printing. The objective was to produce and characterize filaments for 3D printing using PETG and copper nanoparticles (NCu) aiming at obtaining a virucidal surface. Nanocomposites were made with the addition of 0.75% and 1% of NCu and pure PETG. After printing, mechanical tests of nanoindentation, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), digital optical microscopies and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies (FTIR) were performed. The results showed a 48% increase in the elastic modulus for the 0.75% and 1% nanocomposites compared to pure PETG. In the TGA, the results were significant for the nanocomposites with the addition of 1% of NCu compared to pure PETG. In the chemical composition by FTIR spectrum, there were no significant changes.