Properties Of Polylactic Acid Research Articles

Sustainable improvement in the polylactic acid properties of 3D printing filaments: The role of bamboo fiber and epoxidized soybean oil‐branched cardanol ether compatibilizer

AbstractPolylactic acid (PLA) is the prevailing raw material for fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing filaments, offering benefits such as a low printing temperature, minimal shrinkage, and biodegradability. However, this material has challenges such as poor toughness, low heat deflection temperature, susceptibility to moisture‐induced thermal degradation, and high costs. This study addressed these concerns by incorporating natural bamboo fiber (BF) into PLA, elevating heat the deflection temperature and lowering the material costs. Additionally, a synthesized branched structure compatibilizer, in the form of epoxidized soybean oil‐branched cardanol ether (ESOn‐ECD), enhanced the toughness of PLA, the bonding strength between PLA and the BF surface, and the flowability of high‐fiber composites during processing and printing. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties were assessed, demonstrating the promising processing performance of PLA/BF/ESO3‐ECD. The fully biobased composite exhibits strength, toughness, good processability, excellent 3D printability, and durability, implying substantial potential in FDM 3D filament production.Highlights Bio‐based PLA/bamboo fiber/ESO3‐ECD FDM 3D printing filaments were developed. The excellent nucleation ability of the bamboo fibers enhances the crystallization rate and crystallinity of PLA. The epoxy values and branching degree of ESOn‐ECD are crucial for its effective modification.

Optimizing FDM process parameters: predictive insights through taguchi, regression, and neural networks

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is a popular additive manufacturing process used for rapid prototyping and the production of complex geometries. Despite its popularity, FDM’s susceptibility to variations in numerous process parameters can significantly impact the quality, design, functionality, and mechanical properties of 3D printed parts. This study explores thirteen FDM process parameters and their influence on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer, encompassing surface roughness, warpage, tensile and bending strength, elongation at break, deformation, and microhardness. The optimum parameters were identified alongside key contributors by applying the Taguchi method, signal-to-noise ratios, and analysis of variances (ANOVA). Notably, specific FDM parameters significantly affect the surface profile, with layer thickness contributing 32.65% and fan speed contributing 8.59% to the observed variations. Similarly, warping values show notable influence from nozzle temperature (29.53%), wall thickness (16.74%), layer thickness (16.56%), and retraction distance (12.80%). Tensile strength is primarily determined by wall thickness (31.83%), followed by infill percentage (26.73%) and infill pattern (16.18%). Elongation at break predominantly correlates with wall thickness (44.82%), with a supplementary contribution from nozzle temperature (10.90%). Microhardness lacks a dominant parameter. Bending strength variations primarily arise from layer thickness (38%), wall thickness (37.6%), and infill percentage (9.17%). Deformation tendencies are influenced by layer thickness (19.20%), print speed (11.37%), wall thickness, and fan speed (10.9% each). The optimized dataset of FDM process parameters was then employed in two prediction models: multiple-regression and artificial neural network (ANN). Evaluation based on the correlation coefficient (R2) and root mean squared error (RMSE) indicates that the ANN model outperforms the multiple-regression approach. The results indicate that precise control of FDM parameters, coupled with ANN predictions, facilitates the fabrication of 3D printed parts with the desired mechanical characteristics.

Microstructural and Hydrophilic Properties of Polylactide Polymer Samples with Various 3D Printing Patterns.

The aim of the work is to study the effect of the 3D printing process on the microstructural and hydrophilic properties of polylactic acid (PLA) samples with various model printing patterns obtained from the black filament PLA by sequentially applying polymer layers using the FDM (fused deposition modeling) method. X-ray phase analysis revealed the partial crystallization of PLA polymer chains in the printed samples, which occurs under thermal and mechanical action on the original amorphous PLA filament during 3D printing to varying degrees, depending on the geometry of the pattern and the morphology of its surface. At the same time, IR spectroscopy data indicate the preservation of all intrastructural chemical bonds of polylactide. Measured at the original installation, the values of the wetting edge angles on the surface of the printed samples are in the range φ = 50-60°, which is significantly less than the right angle. This indicates the hydrophilic properties of the whole sample's surface. At the same time, the influence of different geometries of model drawings in printed samples was found not only on the morphology of the sample's surface according to SEM data but also on its wettability.

Influence of the cell size and wall thickness on the compressive behaviour of fused filament fabricated PLA gyroid structures

The development of Additive Manufacturing (AM) has greatly facilitated the fabrication of cellular and lattice materials. Gyroid-based lattice structures, known for their distinctive properties such as interconnected porosity, high surface-to-volume ratio, and remarkable structural stiffness combined with specific energy absorption, have been extensively explored. Many studies examining the impact of design parameters on the mechanical properties of Gyroid lattice materials have utilized metal AM techniques. This research aims to evaluate the influence of two design parameters on the compressive properties of Gyroid structures obtained by fused filament fabrication (FFF). A full factorial analysis was employed to assess the effects of cell size and wall thickness on the compressive properties of polylactic acid (PLA) Gyroid lattices. Cell sizes were varied between 4 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm, while wall thickness ranged from 0.4 mm, 0.6 mm, to 0.8 mm. After 3D printing, the print quality was assessed, samples were weighted and then subjected to compression testing. During compression, the lattices with 10 mm cells exhibited successive layer collapse, whereas the lattice with 4 mm and 5 mm cells displayed plastic deformation, marked by a plateau in the stress-strain curve. These behaviours were mostly independent of wall thickness, except for the 5 mm cell lattice with 0.4 mm wall thickness. The elastic modulus, yield stress and absorbed energy per volume aligned with the apparent density of the lattices, ranging between 1% and 12% of the bulk 3D printed material for both the stiffness and yield stress, and between 1% and 22% for the energy absorbed. Analysis of the fitted means indicated that doubling the cell size had a more significant impact on the measured properties than doubling the wall thickness, while doubling both the cell size and wall thickness exerted a more pronounced influence on the yield stress and strain. Notably, under the conditions of this study, the 3D printed PLA Gyroids behaved similarly to closed cell foams, despite their interconnected channels. Their compressive mechanical properties comparable to those of rigid polyurethane foams with closed cells.

Study on the Properties of PLA- and PP-Based Films for Food Applications Incorporating Orange Peel Extract from Agricultural by-Products.

The aim of this work was to develop active packaging based on polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) matrices using a high value by-product extracted from orange peel as an active compound for food packaging applications. Different films with and without orange peel extract (OPE) based on PP and PLA were obtained via cast extrusion and characterized in terms of their mechanical, thermal, optical, and sealing properties. The films obtained were transparent, but when OPE was incorporated, the transmittance spectrum decreased, causing slight coloration. Mechanical properties were affected by the incorporation of OPE, as elongation at break and tensile strength increased in the cross-direction of the PP film, although the main differences found were related to the polymer itself. In addition, sealing strength also increased via the incorporation of OPE in the PP matrix. However, thermal properties were not affected by OPE in the PP matrix but slightly decreased stability in PLA. Regarding antimicrobial activity in in vitro studies, no inhibition of the growth of Listeria innocua, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, or Escherichia coli was observed. Finally, antioxidant activity was observed in in vitro studies with 2,2-Diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The results of this study showed that the obtention of materials with OPE incorporated into the PLA and PP matrix is feasible. The new materials obtained can be used for applications of oxidation-sensitive fresh products.

Surface Thermodynamic Properties of Poly Lactic Acid by Inverse Gas Chromatography.

Poly lactic acid (PLA) is one of the most commonly used bio-derived thermoplastic polymers in 3D and 4D printing applications. The determination of PLA surface properties is of capital importance in 3D/4D printing technology. The surface thermodynamic properties of PLA polymers were determined using the inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique at infinite dilution. The determination of the retention volume of polar and non-polar molecules adsorbed on the PLA particles filling the column allowed us to obtain the dispersive, polar, and Lewis's acid-base surface properties at different temperatures from 40 °C to 100 °C. The applied surface method was based on our recent model that used the London dispersion equation, the new chromatographic parameter function of the deformation polarizability, and the harmonic mean of the ionization energies of the PLA polymer and organic molecules. The application of this new method led to the determination of the dispersive and polar free surface energy of the adsorption of molecules on the polymeric material, as well as the glass transition and the Lewis acid-base constants. Four interval temperatures were distinguished, showing four zones of variations in the surface properties of PLA as a function of the temperature before and after the glass transition. The acid-base parameters of PLA strongly depend on the temperature. The accurate determination of the dispersive and polar surface physicochemical properties of PLA led to the work of adhesion of the polar organic solvents adsorbed on PLA. These results can be very useful for achieving reliable and functional 3D and 4D printed components.

Performance of Recycled Polylactic Acid/Amorphous Polyhydroxyalkanoate Blends.

Blends of polylactic acid (PLA) with amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (aPHA) are less brittle than neat PLA, thus enabling their use as biodegradable packaging. This work investigated the impact of recycling on the properties of neat PLA and PLA/aPHA blends with 90 and 75 wt. % PLA. After the materials were subjected to five heat histories in a single-screw extruder, the mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties were measured. All recycled compounds with 100% PLA and 75% PLA had similar decomposition behavior, whereas the decomposition temperatures for the blends with 90% PLA decreased with each additional heat cycle. The glass transition and melting temperatures were not impacted by reprocessing, but the crystallinity increased with more heat cycles. The complex viscosity of the reprocessed PLA and PLA/aPHA blends was much lower than for the neat PLA and increasing the number of heat cycles produced smaller reductions in the complex viscosity of 100% PLA and the blend with 90% PLA; no change in complex viscosity was observed for blends with 75% PLA exposed to 2 to 5 heat cycles. The tensile properties were not affected by reprocessing, whereas the impact strength for the 75% PLA blend decreased with reprocessing. These properties suggest that users will be able to incorporate scrap into the neat resin for thermoformed packaging.

Effect of Poly(propylene carbonate) on Properties of Polylactic Acid-Based Composite Films.

To enrich the properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-based composite films and improve the base degradability, in this study, a certain amount of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) was added to PLA-based composite films, and PLA/PPC-based composite films were prepared by melt blending and hot-press molding. The effects of the introduction of PPC on the composite films were analyzed through in-depth studies on mechanical properties, water vapor and oxygen transmission rates, thermal analysis, compost degradability, and bacterial inhibition properties of the composite films. When the introduction ratio coefficient of PPC was 30%, the tensile strength of the composite film increased by 19.68%, the water vapor transmission coefficient decreased by 14.43%, and the oxygen transmission coefficient decreased by 18.31% compared to that of the composite film without PPC, the cold crystallization temperature of the composite film increased gradually from 96.9 °C to 104.8 °C, and PPC improved the crystallization ability of composite film. The degradation rate of the composite film with PPC increased significantly compared to the previous one, and the degradation rate increased with the increase in the PPC content. The degradation rate was 49.85% and 46.22% faster on average than that of the composite film without PPC when the degradation was carried out over 40 and 80 days; the composite film had certain inhibition, and the maximum diameter of the inhibition circle was 2.42 cm. This study provides a strategy for the development of PLA-based biodegradable laminates, which can promote the application of PLA-based laminates in food packaging.

Effects of a phosphorus-nitrogen containing DOPO derivative on the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of polylactic acid foamed materials

In this study, a phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant (DOPO-DABP) was synthesized by 9,10-Dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and 4,4′-diaminobenzophenone (DABP). Then, polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), DOPO-DABP, Joncryl ADR-4370F(ADR), azodicarbonamide (ADC) and nano-SiO2 were used as raw materials to prepare flame-retardant modified PLA foamed materials by hot pressing. The synergistic effect of APP and DOPO-DABP not only effectively improves the flame retardancy of PLA foamed material, but also promotes their mechanical properties. The experimental results showed that when APP/DOPO-DABP=10/10, the vertical combustion grade (UL-94) of the material reached the V-0 level, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) was 34.4 %. The tensile strength of the material was 25.35 MPa, bending strength was 32.14 MPa. The cell diameter of the material was reduced to 46.72 μm, and the cell density of the material was 2.25×106/cm3.

Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals Enabled Antimicrobial Polymeric Films

AbstractThis study presents an antimicrobial polymeric material comprising cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) grafted with an antimicrobial oligomer, polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHGH). A one‐pot reaction is implemented to graft PHGH onto CNCs, creating a non‐leaching and nano‐sized antimicrobial additive (mCNC). The mCNC is subsequently incorporated into a model polymer, polylactic acid (PLA), with concentrations of 2.5 to 10 wt.% and tested for its antimicrobial activity during dynamic and static contact with Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis bacteria. The grafting of PHGH onto CNC is confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray spectroscopy (XPS) and elemental analysis. The effect of mCNC incorporation at various loading levels on the morphology and physicomechanical properties of PLA is investigated with polarized optical microscope (POM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile testing, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In terms of the antimicrobial action, the films exhibited potent efficacy against Gram‐positive bacteria (B. subtilis), with growth inhibition of 3.97 to 4.66‐log reduction. However, 10 wt.% of mCNC loading is needed to achieve a significant bacterial inhibition (>6.24‐log) of the Gram‐negative bacteria (E. coli). Overall, the incorporation of PHGH grafted CNCs in polymers provided a non‐leaching antimicrobial film that has potential application in food packaging.

Effect of Aging on Tensile and Chemical Properties of Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid-Like Polymer Materials for Additive Manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing, with its fast development and application of polymeric materials, led to the wide utilization of polylactic acid (PLA) materials. As a biodegradable and biocompatible aliphatic polyester, produced from renewable sources, PLA is widely used in different sectors, from industry to medicine and science. The aim of this research is to determine the differences between two forms of the PLA material, i.e., fused deposition modeling (FDM) printed filament and digital light processing (DLP) printed resin, followed by aging due to environmental and hygiene maintenance conditions for a period of two months. Specimens underwent 3D scanning, tensile testing, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry to obtain insights into the material changes that occurred. Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis was subsequently carried out to determine the statistical significance of the determined changes. Significant impairment can be observed in the dimensional accuracies between both materials, whether they are non-aged or aged. The mechanical properties fluctuated for aged FDM specimens: 15% for ultimate tensile stress, 15% for elongation at yield, and 12% for elastic modulus. Regarding the DLP aged specimens, the UTS decreased by 61%, elongation at yield by around 61%, and elastic modulus by 62%. According to the FTIR spectral analysis, the PLA materials degraded, especially in the case of resin specimens. Aging also showed a significant influence on the elastic modulus, ultimate tensile stress, elongation at yield, elongation at break, and toughness of both materials, which was statistically shown by means of a two-way ANOVA test. The data collected in this research give a better understanding of the underlying aging mechanism of PLA materials.

Fabrication, mechanical, finite element and In vitro evaluation of 3D printed polylactide/biphasic calcium phosphate composite blends

Polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with biphasic calcium phosphate mixtures were extruded as filaments and subsequently 3D printed into definite shapes in accordance with the ASTM standards. The optimum combination of PLA and BCP to attain a stable 3D printed component has been respectively determined as 80 and 20 wt %. BCP inclusions in the range of 2.5 and 5 wt % in PLA led to a respective upsurge ∼11 % in tensile strength and ∼15 % upsurge in compressive strength than pure PLA. While excess BCP additions led to a decline in the material strength. Further, representative volume element models were developed using the properties of BCP and PLA to build ASTM models for performing Finite element analysis (FEA) under both static and dynamic loading conditions. FEA results specified good uniformity with the experimental mechanical data. In vitro tests ensured the biocompatibility of 3D printed PLA-BCP composites.

Effect of polycarbodiimide, epoxy chain extenders and tannic acid on the hydrolysis and UV resistance of polylactic acid

Polylactic acid (PLA) possesses characteristics such as biodegradability, ease of processing, and environmental friendliness, making it an ideal alternative to petroleum-based polymers. However, PLA has drawbacks such as susceptibility to hydrolysis and sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light, limiting its application in certain areas. In this study, poly(carbazole diimide) (PCDI) and the epoxy chain extender Joncryl ADR4468 (CE) were employed as a synergistic anti-hydrolysis agent for PLA, and tannic acid (TA) was used as a UV-resistant agent. A melt-blending process was employed to prepare PLA composite materials with enhanced resistance to both hydrolysis and UV radiation. The results indicate that the addition of PCDI-TA-CE significantly improved the performance of PLA. After 8 h of hydrolysis at 80 °C, the tensile strength of PLA increased from 38.31 MPa for pure PLA to 77.69 MPa with the incorporation of PCDI-TA-CE. The elongation at break increased from 0.6% to 1.5%, and the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value elevated from 3.19 for pure PLA to 503.46.This demonstrates that PCDI, CE, and TA can effectively enhance the anti-hydrolysis and UV resistance properties of PLA.

Volume exclusion effect and ambient temperature induced ultrahigh electromagnetic wave absorption properties of polylactic acid (PLA)/graphene nano‐platelets (GNPs) composites

AbstractConductive polymer composites (CPCs) have an excellent performance in dealing with electromagnetic (EM) radiation. The distribution of conductive fillers in CPCs plays a vital role in the electrical conductivity and EM wave‐absorbing properties. Moreover, the distribution evolution of GNPs in the PLA matrix caused by the enhanced volume exclusion effect via annealing was investigated. Polylactic acid with 8 wt.% graphene nano‐platelets (PG8) achieved best performance among the composites. After 5‐min heat treatment, the electrical conductivity and EM wave absorption properties of PLA/GNPs composites are significantly improved. With a simple treatment, the composite can reach an ultrahigh reflection loss (RL) value of −28.5 dB with a thickness of only 2.5 mm. By controlling the thickness in the range of 1–4 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth can be adjusted within 5.1–8.0 GHz. These methods provided in this work can effectively improve the EM wave absorption performance of CPCs and are worthy of being promoted.

Toward Flame Retardancy, Antimelt Dripping, and UV Resistance Properties of Polylactic Acid Based on Eco-Friendly Core–Shell Flame Retardant

Toward Flame Retardancy, Antimelt Dripping, and UV Resistance Properties of Polylactic Acid Based on Eco-Friendly Core–Shell Flame Retardant

Micromechanical Dilution of PLA/PETG-Glass/Iron Nanocomposites: A More Efficient Molecular Dynamics Approach.

Polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) (PETG) are popular thermoplastics used in additive manufacturing applications. The mechanical properties of PLA and PETG can be significantly improved by introducing fillers, such as glass and iron nanoparticles (NPs), into the polymer matrix. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the reactive INTERFACE force field were used to predict the mechanical responses of neat PLA/PETG and PLA-glass/iron and PETG-glass/iron nanocomposites with relatively high loadings of glass/iron NPs. We found that the iron and glass NPs significantly increased the elastic moduli of the PLA matrix, while the PETG matrix exhibited modest increases in elastic moduli. This difference in reinforcement ability may be due to the slightly greater attraction between the glass/iron NP and PLA matrix. The NASA Multiscale Analysis Tool was used to predict the mechanical response across a range of volume percent glass/iron filler by using only the neat and highly loaded MD predictions as input. This provides a faster and more efficient approach than creating multiple MD models per volume percent per polymer/filler combination. To validate the micromechanics predictions, experimental samples incorporating hollow glass microspheres (MS) and carbonyl iron particles (CIP) into PLA/PETG were developed and tested for elastic modulus. The CIP produced a larger reinforcement in elastic modulus than the MS, with similar increases in elastic modulus between PLA/CIP and PETG/CIP at 7.77 vol % CIP. The micromechanics-based mechanical predictions compare excellently with the experimental values, validating the integrated micromechanical/MD simulation-based approach.

Enhancing shear strength in 3D printed single lap composite joints: A multi‐faceted exploration of GNP integration, print orientation, utilizing artificial neural networks, and dynamic analysis

AbstractThe state‐of‐the‐art manufacturing process known as additive manufacturing (AM) employs components that may be processed by AM, including ceramics, polymeric materials, metallic substances, titanium, metallic substances, and composites, to produce parts with intricate designs and exact properties. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a rapidly growing 3D printing technique. However, most FDM systems only support polylactic acid (PLA) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as a printing medium. The impact of print orientations and graphene nanoparticles upon the tensile and shear properties of PLA single‐lap joint samples created by FDM has been investigated in this work. According to experimentation, the 0° orientation has the highest load‐bearing capacity and shear strength compared to 45° and 90°. Also, addition of GNP to epoxy adhesive improved greatly, with 0.25 to 1.00 weight percentages of 20.94, 12.34, 38.98, and 31.11%, respectively. FESEM has been used to analyze the failure criteria. The free vibrational analysis confirmed that the 3DS6 sample had the highest natural frequency (598.7 Hz) compared to all other samples. The artificial neural network (ANN) approach accurately predicted the failure load. The overall =0.8471 achieved is below the permissible margin of error, indicating that both the outcomes are reliable and in satisfactory agreement.

Flame Retardant Additives in Polylactic Acid (PLA) Photopolymer Resin for 3D Printing Digital Light Processing (DLP)

Digital light processing (DLP) technology has been developed based on stereolithography (SLA) 3D-printing principle. The biodegradable and low-cost polylactic-acid (PLA) has so far been used as polymeric material for photopolymer resin in SLA and DLP. To achieve functional SLA-processed product, the properties of such PLA has been improved, with the aim to make it flame retardant, less viscous, and having light transmittance characteristics. In this study, the liquid raw PLA photopolymer was changed by adding different contents of Ammonium Phosphate (APP), melamine cyanurate (MCA), Aluminum Tri-hydroxide (Al2O3) and Nano-silicon dioxide (SiO2) additives. The solid PLA nanocomposite specimens were printed by using DLP device according to the standard geometry for burning test UL-94 to evaluate its flame-retardant property. In addition, the printing product and residue after burning test was analyzed for their morphological characteristic by using SEM. The results showed that the low weight fraction of MCA showed excellent performance. PLA/MCA successfully kept green body form until the sintering temperature of stainless steel was achieved. It can become a reference for application DLP 3D printing products in the casting and sintering process.

Characterization of biodegradable bi‐layer films from thermoplastic starch and poly‐l‐lactic acid

AbstractThis study aimed to enhance the oxygen barrier properties of polylactic acid (PLA) film, a biodegradable packaging material with high oxygen permeability (OP). Bi‐layer films were produced by coating thermoplastic starch (TPS) onto PLA films in various ratios while maintaining constant film thickness. The mechanical, optical, barrier, thermal, hydrophobicity, moisture sorption, and microstructural properties of the films were analyzed. Increasing the TPS ratio elevated moisture content (MC), water uptake, solubility, and opacity while enhancing UV barrier properties. TPS coating reduced tensile and burst strength but increased the burst deformation of the bi‐layer films. Bi‐layer film production resulted in a water vapor permeability increase of 59.26%–94.44% compared with neat PLA while decreasing OP by 2.52%–29.66%. The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) rose with higher TPS ratios, displaying type II isotherms. FTIR analysis indicated no chemical interactions between PLA and TPS. Increasing the TPS ratio decreased PLA crystallinity, supporting the mechanical and barrier properties of the bi‐layer films. Neat and bi‐layer films exhibited smooth, homogeneous surfaces, with a visible interface in the cross‐section of the bi‐layer films. In conclusion, TPS shows promise as an alternative to improve oxygen barrier properties in PLA films without adversely affecting other properties.

Impact of strain rate on mechanical properties of polylatic acid fabricated by fusion deposition modeling

AbstractThe primary objective of this research is to investigate the impact of strain rate on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) fabricated through fused deposition modeling. PLA material was fabricated in a grid pattern with 75% infill density, a 0.16 mm layer height, and a ± 45° printing direction. This study specifically investigated tensile strength, flexural strength, and interlaminar strength with respect to varying crosshead speeds (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm/min). The highest tensile strength noted was 40.13 MPa at a cross—head speed of 5 mm/min. Maximum elongation of 7.1% was noted on cross head velocity of 1 mm/min, and the maximum interlaminar strength reached 76.04 MPa at 4 mm/min. At a crosshead speed of 4 mm/min, the tensile strength measured was 38.36 MPa, which is a value close to the maximum result achieved in the tensile test. Interlaminar strength was notably higher at a crosshead speed of 4 mm/min, indicating a strong integrity of the printed layers. The values for elongation percentage and flexural strength were also moderate at a crosshead speed of 4 mm/min, which was 4.9% and 55 MPa, respectively. Therefore, crosshead speed of 4 mm/min appears to be an optimum factor for testing 3D printed PLA parts. This research sheds light on understanding the critical influence of strain rate in the mechanical performance of 3D printed PLA.