Fiber Reinforced Poly Lactic Acid Research Articles

FDM 3D Printed MXene/Recycled Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites: Interface Optimization, Toughening and Enhanced Electromagnetic Shielding Performance

FDM 3D Printed MXene/Recycled Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites: Interface Optimization, Toughening and Enhanced Electromagnetic Shielding Performance

Sustainability of Existing Phase of Extruded Fiber-Reinforced Polylactic Acid under Dynamic Shock Loading Conditions

Sustainability of Existing Phase of Extruded Fiber-Reinforced Polylactic Acid under Dynamic Shock Loading Conditions

Effect of Mechanical Fastening Versus Adhesively Bonded Joints of Polymer Composites on Lap Joint Strength

To examine the viability of combining pine needle fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites, galvanized iron sheet and aluminum sheet via the use of mechanical fastening and adhesive bonding methods was investigated. The study included the preparation of three distinct kinds of joints, namely, adhesive, nut-bolt, and rivet joints, with the purpose of assessing their tensile and flexural strength. The findings indicated that the use of both mechanical fastening and adhesive bonding methods yielded successful outcomes in the bonding of these materials, with the strength of the joints changing based on the approach employed. The adhesive bonding approach exhibited superior tensile and flexural strength in comparison to the mechanical fastening technique. The microstructural examination demonstrated that the adhesive bonding approach yielded a consistent and uninterrupted contact between the materials, while the mechanical fastening technique exhibited some surface imperfections and deformations. The results indicated that both approaches were effective in producing robust and long-lasting joints.

Effect of Hygrothermal Conditioning on the Machining Behavior of Biocomposites

Abstract This work aims to study the cutting behavior of biocomposites under different controlled hygrothermal conditions. This investigation choice is motivated by the fact that natural plant fibers such as flax are characterized by their hydrophilicity which makes them able to absorb water from a humid environment. This absorption ability is intensified by increasing the conditioning temperature. The moisture diffusion process affects considerably the mechanical properties of the resulting composite, which causes many issues during the machining operations. In this paper, moisture diffusion, chip form, cutting and thrust forces, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations are considered to explore the cutting behavior of flax fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) depending on the hygrothermal conditioning time. Results reveal that moisture content in the biocomposite is significantly influenced by the conditioning temperature and the fiber orientation. Moisture content and fiber orientation affect both the curling behavior of the removed chip as well as the tool/chip interaction in terms of friction. The machinability of flax fiber-reinforced PLA biocomposites depending on hygrothermal conditioning time is then investigated using SEM analysis in addition to analytical modeling. An analysis of variance is used finally to quantify the observed results.

A study of the mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of sisal fiber-reinforced polylactic acid bio-composites with tributyl 2-acetylcitrate as a plasticizer

In this study, bio-composites were developed using polylactic acid (PLA) as the matrix and sisal fibers (SFs) derived from agave sisalana leaves as the reinforcement. The bio-composites were prepared through injection molding with the addition of tributyl 2-acetylcitrate (ATBC) plasticizer. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of these bio-composites were investigated to understand the effects of fiber and plasticizer contents. The results showed that the addition of SFs improved the tensile and flexural moduli of the bio-composites but led to a decrease in tensile strength compared to neat PLA. The flexural strength initially decreased with low fiber content but recovered to the level of neat PLA as the fiber content increased. The impact strength increased with the incorporation of SFs and ATBC. However, the presence of ATBC had a negative impact on the tensile and flexural properties of the bio-composites. The thermal conductivity of the materials was influenced by the fiber content and processing temperature, increasing with SFs inclusion but decreasing with temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed increased crystallinity of PLA with the presence of SFs and ATBC. The specific heat capacity increased with ATBC but decreased with increasing SFs. Dynamic mechanical property testing showed variations in storage and loss moduli of the bio-composites at different temperatures. The storage modulus increased with higher fiber content and abruptly dropped around glass transition temperature. Rheological characterization demonstrated effective interactions between the fibers and matrix with good fiber dispersion, resulting in uniform shear viscosity versus shear rate for different capillary dimensions. The shear viscosity of the SFs/PLA mixture increased with increasing fiber content but decreased with the addition of plasticizer. Furthermore, the compounding and molding processes had a notable impact on the microstructure of the fibers, specifically resulting in fiber breakage and fiber separation during processing.

Determination of shear strength of additively manufactured poly lactic acid/flax fibre bio-composite via the iosipescu test

The need to reduce CO2 emissions is leading to the search for alternatives to the manufacture of products from petrochemical sources. One of these alternatives is polylactic acid a bio-sourced, and biodegradable material, which is expected to be one of the most widely used materials in the forthcoming years. Recently, the feasibility of enhancing the mechanical characteristics of the PLA, by adding the flax fibre was demonstrated. Flax fibers are becoming an ideal alternative in reinforced polymer composites, thanks to the energy-intensive processing required to elaborate synthetic fibers. Flax fibers are not only recyclable and bio-degradable but also have excellent mechanical characteristics. However, the mechanical properties of flax fibre-reinforced polylactic acid composites, obtained by additive manufacturing techniques, are not well known. In the first part of this study, the quality of the Iosipescu shear experiment is examined with full-field strain measurements. In the second part, the in-plane shear response of manufactured flax fibre reinforced polylactic acid composites notched with the machining process and additive manufacturing technique are compared. This last makes it possible to evaluate the influence of the printing conditions and in particular the shell layers (contour) on the mechanical characteristics. It was perceived that the fully 3D printed specimens had a greater shear strength (+50.47%) and shear modulus (+44.68 %) than machined notch specimens. The fully 3D printed specimens count with the presence of a contour that rounds the vertices of the notches, reducing the stress-concentration factor, whereas in machined notch specimens, such contour was removed.

A correlation study on piezo-embedded carbon fibre reinforced polylactic acid composite: Experimental and numerical modelling

In this research work, a piezoelectric sensor and actuator model was designed. Carbon fibre-reinforced polylactic acid (CF/PLA) composites were fabricated using the fused deposition modelling (FDM) technique using many parameters to achieve this goal. For instance, the primary key parameters were 0.1 mm (layer height) and 25 mm/s (print head). Besides, the fabricated samples were subjected to a tensile study. Besides, MATLAB® Partial Differential Equation (PDE) tool was used to develop a finite element analysis (FEA) model for the piezoelectric actuator using the experimentally tested results. The MATLAB® was also used to examine the geometry and tip deflection. The experimental works were carried out to measure the sample’s strain using piezoelectric sensors. This approach could be used to establish the accuracy of the model. The CF/PLA composites were fabricated using 20 wt.% of reinforcements. The experimental results and finite element simulation were good agreement on results. Results reported that the deflections of 6.5765 mm, 5.197 mm, and 7.6328 mm, respectively embedded with PZT 5J, PZT 5H, and PZT 5A.

Development of fiber-reinforced polylactic acid filaments using untreated/silane-treated trichosanthes cucumerina fibers for additive manufacturing

Multi-material additive manufacturing is gaining importance due to the enhancement of properties by utilizing different materials in a single additive process, especially in 3D printing. The prime motive is the need for eco-friendly materials, with the waste-to-wealth concept being the current global trend. Trichosanthes Cucumerina stem fiber, which is obtained from the discarded stem of Trichosanthes Cucumerina plant, is used in this work; the treatment of the Trichosanthes Cucumerina fibers was done using silane. Six filaments were developed with varying untreated/silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina contents (3, 6, and 9%) compared with pure PLA filaments for 3D printing. Developed filaments were assessed for ultimate tensile strength, diameter variation, differential scanning calorimetry, water absorption, morphological and surface roughness. The test results elucidated that the 6% silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina fiber-reinforced/PLA filament had the highest tensile strength of 63.5 MPa with better fiber distribution. The 3% silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina fiber-reinforced/PLA filament had the least diameter deviation of 0.0015 mm. Based on the test data, the 6% silane-treated Trichosanthes Cucumerina fiber-reinforced/PLA filament can be utilized to prepare biodegradable components.

Mechanical performances of printed carbon fiber-reinforced PLA and PETG composites

In this study, the 3D printing technology was adopted to produce carbon fiber-reinforced polylactic acid and polyethylene terephthalate glycol composites. Fused deposition modeling process was conducted at different settings of printing parameters, specifically, raster angle, printing speed, and extrusion temperature. Each of the selected printing parameters has a key role in making the best-printed part in terms of layer-by-layer deposition quality and mechanical performance. To examine how these process parameters affect the behavior of the printed parts, tensile tests were performed and mechanical properties were assessed. It was reported that the printing orientation, characterized by the raster angle, can be identified as the determining factor to define the fracture mode. Composite parts printed with 0° raster angle, aligning with the tensile loading path, exhibit the highest levels of stiffness and ductility. Ductile and brittle fractures corresponding to 0° and 90° raster angles, respectively, were illustrated through optical observations of failure profiles. Furthermore, the tensile test indicates that higher printing speed leads to a significant deterioration in mechanical performances, notably reducing the stiffness of the printed structures. Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed that increasing the printing speed results in greater porosity within the structure, thereby weakening its mechanical strength. Regarding the extrusion temperature, it was shown that elevating it enhances the mechanical characteristics of the printed parts, particularly in terms of strength and ductility. Referring to microstructural observations, this outcome is attributed to the improved adhesion between the deposited layers and the reduction in porosity at high extrusion temperature.

Fabrication and Performance of Continuous 316 Stainless Steel Fibre-Reinforced 3D-Printed PLA Composites.

This study investigates the feasibility of 3D printing continuous stainless steel fibre-reinforced polymer composites. The printing study was carried out using 316L stainless steel fibre (SSF) bundles with an approximate diameter of 0.15 mm. This bundle was composed of 90 fibres with a 14 μm diameter. This fibre bundle was first coated with polylactic acid (PLA) in order to produce a polymer-coated continuous stainless steel filament, with diameters tailored in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 mm. These filaments were then used to print composite parts using the material extrusion (MEX) technique. The SSF's volume fraction (Vf) was controlled in the printed composite structures in the range from 4 to 30 Vf%. This was facilitated by incorporating a novel polymer pressure vent into the printer nozzle, which allowed the removal of excess polymer. This thus enabled the control of the metal fibre content within the printed composites as the print layer height was varied in the range from 0.22 to 0.48 mm. It was demonstrated that a lower layer height yielded a more homogeneous distribution of steel fibres within the PLA polymer matrix. The PLA-SSF composites were assessed to evaluate their mechanical performance, volume fraction, morphology and porosity. Composite porosities in the range of 2-21% were obtained. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the stainless steel composites exhibited a twofold increase in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and a fourfold increase in its tensile strength compared with the PLA-only polymer prints. When comparing the 4 and 30 Vf% composites, the latter exhibited a significant increase in both the tensile strength and modulus. The ILSS values obtained for the steel composites were up to 28.5 MPa, which is significantly higher than the approximately 13.8 MPa reported for glass fibre-reinforced PLA composites.

Design and Optimization of 4D Printed Carbon Fiber Reinforced Poly Lactic Acid Parts Using Fused Deposition Modeling for Shape Memory Applications: A Taguchi Approach

The manufacturing industry has witnessed substantial interest in the advancement of 4D printing technology in recent years. This technology has enabled the production of complex structures with enhanced functionality and adaptability. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) has become a preferred technique for 4D printing due to its ease of use, affordability, and versatile nature. To achieve efficient and effective 4D printing, the process parameters must be optimised to ensure the desired shape recovery behaviour of the printed parts. The main objective of this study is to optimize the process parameters for the production of 4D printed components using FDM technology and Carbon Fiber reinforced Poly Lactic Acid (CF/PLA) Shape Memory Polymer Composites (SMPCs). This study examines the shape recovery properties of the printed components by modifying the process parameters, including Infill Density (ID), Geometrical Thickness (GT), and Bending Angle (BA), through the implementation of Design of Experiments (DOE) L9 Orthogonal Array (OA). Utilizing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine the significant factors and their optimum levels, the process parameters are statistically analysed. The results indicate that ID and GT are the statistically significant parameters, and the optimum levels for parameters includes 20% ID, 1.5mm GT, and 300 BA led to faster shape recovery. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the Taguchi approach in the design and optimization of the process parameters for 4D printed parts using FDM.

Sound absorption and transmission loss of 3D printed wood fibre reinforced poly lactic acid with functionally graded perforations

ABSTRACT The effect of wood fibre reinforcement on acoustic properties of 3D printed poly lactic acid samples having varying cross-section perforation and functionally graded spherical perforations is presented. Acoustic characteristics like sound absorption as well as transmission loss are obtained using an impedance tube setup. Results revealed the benefits due to the addition of wood fibres in PLA improved samples’ sound transmission loss characteristics significantly. The sound absorption curve peaks shifted to low-frequency regions which are favourable to living beings. The material can be used in acoustic insulation for structural and transportation applications, especially where eco-friendliness and aesthetics are of major concern.

Enhanced Dynamic Impact Resistance of 3D-Printed Continuous Optical Fiber-Reinforced Helicoidal Polylactic Acid Composites.

Characterized by light weight and high strength, composites are widely used as protective materials in dynamic impact loading under extreme conditions, such as high strain rates. Therefore, based on the excellent tensile properties of continuous fiber and the good flexibility and toughness of the bionic spiral structure, this study uses a multi-material 3D printer to incorporate continuous fiber, and then modifies the G-CODE file to control the printing path to achieve the production of a continuous fiber-reinforced Polylactic Acid composite helicoidal (spiral angle 60°) structure (COF-HP). Dynamic behavior under high-strain-rate impact experiments have been conducted using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB). Stress-strain curves, impact energy curves and high-speed camera photographs with different strain rates at 680 s-1 and 890 s-1 have been analyzed to explore the dynamic process and illustrate the damage evolution. In addition, some detailed simulation models considering the incorporation of continuous optical fiber (COF) and different strain rates have been established and verified for deeper investigations. The results show that the COF does enhance the impact resistance of the laminates. When the porosity is reduced, the maximum stress of the continuous fiber-reinforced composite material is 4~7% higher than that of the pure PLA material. Our findings here expand the application of COF and provide a new method for designing protective materials, which have broad application prospects in the aerospace and automotive industries.

The flexural and compressive properties of sandwich composites with different 3D-printed core structures

In this study, different core structures are produced with polylactic acid (PLA) and carbon fiber reinforced PLA (CFR-PLA) filaments using a 3D printer with fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique. An alternative new core structure is proposed to the honeycomb and square core structures commonly used in the literature. Then, sandwich composites are produced by bonding carbon fiber-epoxy plates to the lower and upper surfaces of these core structures. The effect of carbon fiber reinforcement and core types on the mechanical properties of sandwich composites was investigated. The core structures produced with carbon fiber-reinforced PLA showed lower compressive strength but higher compressive modulus than those produced with pure PLA. Among the core structures, the designed structure showed the highest compressive strength with a value of 9.867 MPa, which is 32.18% and 54.36% higher than the honeycomb and square structure. While the flexural strength and flexural stiffness of the sandwich composites increased with carbon fiber reinforcement, the designed sandwich composite showed approximately 1.40 and 3.15 times the flexural strength of the honeycomb and square sandwich composites, respectively.

Experimental investigation on fatigue life and tensile strength of carbon fiber-reinforced PLA composites based on fused deposition modeling

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a widely used additive manufacturing (AM) method that offers great flexibility in fabricating complex geometries without requiring expensive equipment. However, compared to other manufacturing methods, FDM-produced parts generally exhibit lower strength and fatigue life. To overcome this limitation, researchers have explored the use of fibers and reinforcements to enhance the mechanical properties of FDM parts. Nevertheless, the performance of FDM-produced parts can be significantly affected by various manufacturing parameters, including infill density, which is a key factor in balancing time and cost. In this study, the tensile strength and fatigue life of carbon fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites produced by FDM were investigated by varying the infill density (50 and 75%) and raster angle (0°, 45°, and 90°). The effects of 100% filling density, raster width, and nozzle diameter on mechanical properties were also examined. The experimental results demonstrated that increasing the infill density and decreasing the raster angle can enhance the tensile strength, although the fatigue behavior was found to be more complex and dependent on the infill density. The optimal parameters for producing FDM parts with improved mechanical properties were identified based on the analysis of the tensile strength and fatigue life data. This research has yielded significant findings concerning the diverse fatigue behavior associated with the raster angle at different infill densities. Specifically, noteworthy observations reveal that a raster angle of 45 degrees at 50% infill density, and a raster angle of 0 degrees at 75% infill density, exhibited the most prolonged fatigue life. This outcome can be ascribed to the specific loading conditions and the inherent strength of the sediment layer at the critical point of stress concentration.

Correlation between Infill Percentages, Layer Width, and Mechanical Properties in Fused Deposition Modelling of Poly-Lactic Acid 3D Printing

The field of additive manufacturing (AM) has seen a transformation in the production of intricate and complex parts for various applications. Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), among AM techniques, has garnered significant attention, particularly in fields like fibre-reinforced composites (FRC). In this study, the world of FDM-printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) components is explored, with a focus on how mechanical properties are influenced by infill percentages and layer widths. Through the utilisation of Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the optimisation of FDM-PLA 3D printing for a wide range of biomaterial applications is achieved, along with the unveiling of the potential for remarkable improvements in mechanical performance. Notably, a remarkable 91% reduction in surface roughness for PLA composites was achieved, accompanied by an impressive 25.6% and 34.1% enhancement in the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of fibre-reinforced PLA composites, respectively. This work, positioned at the crossroads of FDM, lays the groundwork for substantial advancements in the realm of additive manufacturing.

Evolution of Manufacturing Defects of 3D-Printed Thermoplastic Composites with Processing Parameters: A Micro-CT Analysis.

Owing to the melting and healing properties of thermoplastic resin, additive manufacturing or 3D printing is considered one of the most promising technologies for fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. However, manufacturing defects are still the main concern, which significantly limits the application of 3D-printed composite structures. To gain an insight into the effects of different processing parameters on the typical manufacturing defects, a micro-scale analysis was carried out via Micro-CT technology on the 3D-printed continuous carbon fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composite specimens. The bias distribution of the fiber in the deposited filament was found. Moreover, when the feed rate of the filament was reduced from 100% to 50%, the a/b value was closer to 3.33, but the porosity increased from 7.077% to 25.352%. When the layer thickness was 0.2 mm, the increased nozzle pressure reduced the porosity but also increased the risk of fiber bundle breakage. The research provides an effective approach for analyzing the micro-structure of 3D printed composite structures and thus offers guidance for the processing control.

Optimization of chemical treatment process parameters for enhancement of mechanical properties of Kenaf fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites: A comparative study of mechanical, morphological and microstructural analysis

As advancements in sustainable material science continue, kenaf fiber and polylactic acid (KF/PLA) composites have emerged as promising eco-friendly alternatives. The current research article has focused on improving the physical strength of these KF/PLA composites. Methodologies like Taguchi's and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) have been employed to identify the most effective ways to enhance the chemical treatment process. The composites were manufactured using an injection molding technique while essential variables were modified. These variables comprised the choice of chemical treatments (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or sodium acetate), the concentration of these chemicals (1%, 2%, or 3% w/v), and the duration of treatment (2, 4, or 6 h). These modifications led to the production of diverse KF/PLA composite variants. The physical strength of these modified composites was evaluated using various methods, focusing on their tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation under tension, flexural strength, flexural modulus, deformability under bending, and impact resistance. A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was utilized to observe the treated and tested samples in detail. The optimal values identified through GRA and mean plots were same for the composite. Improved mechanical properties of KF/PLA were observed when the optimal conditions of A1-B2-C2 (NaOH, 2%, and 4 h) were applied. Although, the morphology of the PLA matrix-based bio composites reinforced with kenaf fiber with different surface-treatments was recorded using AFM analysis in order to further reveal the surface roughness of fibers upon surface modification and dispersion.

Tensile Properties of In Situ 3D Printed Glass Fiber-Reinforced PLA.

A 3D printed composite via the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique has potential to enhance the mechanical properties of FFF 3D printed parts. The most commonly employed techniques for 3D composite printing (method 1) utilized premixed composite filaments, where the fibers were integrated into thermoplastic materials prior to printing. In the second method (method 2), short fibers and thermoplastic were mixed together within the extruder of a 3D printer to form a composite part. However, no research has been conducted on method 3, which involves embedding short fibers into the printed object during the actual printing process. A novel approach concerning 3D printing in situ fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) by embedding glass fibers between deposited layers during printing was proposed recently. An experimental investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the tensile behavior of the composites manufactured by the new manufacturing method. Neat polylactic acid (PLA) and three different glass fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (GFPLA) composites with 1.02%, 2.39%, and 4.98% glass fiber contents, respectively, were 3Dprinted. Tensile tests were conducted with five repetitions for each sample. The fracture surfaces of the samples were then observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the porosities of the 3D printed samples were measured with a image processing software (ImageJ 1.53t). The result shows that the tensile strengths of GFPLA were higher than the neat PLA. The tensile strength of the composites increased from GFPLA-1 (with a 1.02% glass fiber content) to GFPLA-2.4 (with a 2.39% glass fiber content), but drastically dropped at GFPLA-5 (with a 4.98% glass fiber content). However, the tensile strength of GFPLA-5 is still higher than the neat PLA. The fracture surfaces of tensile samples were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images showed the average line width of the deposited material increased as glass fiber content increased, while layer height was maintained. The intralayer bond of the deposited filaments improved via the new fiber embedding method. Hence, the porosity area is reduced as glass fiber content increased.

Study on 3D printing process of continuous polyglycolic acid fiber-reinforced polylactic acid degradable composites.

A continuous polyglycolic acid (PGA) fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) degradable composite was proposed for application in biodegradable load-bearing bone implant. The fused deposition modeling (FDM) process was used to fabricate composite specimens. The influences of the printing process parameters, such as layer thickness, printing spacing, printing speed, and filament feeding speed on the mechanical properties of the PGA fiber-reinforced PLA composites, were studied. The thermal properties of the PGA fiber and PLA matrix were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The internal defects of the as-fabricated specimens were characterized by the micro-X- ray 3D imaging system. During the tensile experiment, a full-field strain measurement system was used to detect the strain map and analysis the fracture mode of the specimens. A digital microscope and field emission electron scanning microscopy were used to observe the interface bonding between fiber and matrix and fracture morphologies of the specimens. The experimental results showed that the tensile strength of specimens was related to their fiber content and porosity. The printing layer thickness and printing spacing had significant impacts on the fiber content. The printing speed did not affect the fiber content but had a slight effect on the tensile strength. Reducing the printing spacing and layer thickness could increase the fiber content. The tensile strength (along the fiber direction) of the specimen with 77.8% fiber content and 1.82% porosity was the highest, reaching 209.32 ± 8.37 MPa, which is higher than the tensile strength of the cortical bone and polyether ether ketone (PEEK), indicating that the continuous PGA fiber-reinforced PLA composite has great potential in the manufacture of biodegradable load-bearing bone implants.