Abstract
Textile materials have been combined with polymers using 3D printing technology, thus producing structures with novel properties. The aim of this study was to use statistical methods to determine the effect of 3D printing machine parameters on the mechanical properties of cotton fabrics combined with polylactic acid. Polylactic acid was printed on a cotton fabric using an Athena Fused Deposition Modelling 3D printer. The effect of extrusion temperature, printing speed, fill density and model height on adhesion force before and after washing was investigated. A study of the tensile strength was also undertaken using a central composite rotatable design and regression analysis. The experimental data were used to develop regression models to predict the properties of the cotton/ polylactic acid structures. The model for adhesion force before washing yielded a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.75 and an optimum adhesion force of 50.06 N/cm. The model for adhesion force had an R2 value of 0.84 and an optimum adhesion force of 42.91 N/cm and showed that adhesion force reduced after washing. Adhesion forces before and after washing were both positively correlated to extrusion temperature. However, they reduced with an increase in printing speed and model height. A positive correlation exists between tensile strength and temperature, while a negative correlation exists between tensile strength and printing speed and model height. From the results of this study, it was concluded that 3D printing parameters have an effect on the properties of the structures.
Highlights
The regression analysis showed that extrusion temperature (X1), extrusion speed (X2) and model height (X4) had an effect on adhesion force, while fill density (X3) had no significant effect on adhesion force
The regression analysis showed that extrusion temperature (X1), printing speed (X2) and model height (X4) had an effect on adhesion force after washing, while fill density (X3) had no significant effect; it was not captured in the model
This study showed that the 3D printing machine parameters have an effect on the properties of the polylactic acid (PLA)/textile structure
Summary
Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics . As skirts and dresses can be produced using 3D printing, there are still limitations related to the creating process, printing processes, materials, modelling programmes, and wearing the cloth.[5] There is the challenge of 3D printed textiles having inferior flexibility, comfort and strength when compared to traditional textiles. This method has expanded the possible smart textile applications that can be explored in 3D printing such as electroluminescence devices and wearable electronics.[7,8,9] there is the challenge of the adherence of the polymer to the textile fabric
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