A Comparative Study for Material Selection in 3D Printing of Scoliosis Back Brace

Author:

Ronca AlfredoORCID,Abbate Valentina,Redaelli Davide FeliceORCID,Storm Fabio AlexanderORCID,Cesaro Giacomo,De Capitani Cristina,Sorrentino AndreaORCID,Colombo GiorgioORCID,Fraschini Paolo,Ambrosio Luigi

Abstract

In recent years, many research studies have focused on the application of 3D printing in the production of orthopaedic back braces. Several advantages, such as the ability to customise complex shapes, improved therapeutic effect and reduced production costs place this technology at the forefront in the ongoing evolution of the orthopaedic sector. In this work, four different materials, two of them poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and two of them poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) (PETG), were characterised from a thermal, mechanical, rheological and morphological point of view. Our aim was to understand the effects of the material properties on the quality and functionality of a 3D-printed device. The specimens were cut from 3D-printed hemi-cylinders in two different orientation angles. Our results show that PETG-based samples have the best mechanical properties in terms of elastic modulus and elongation at break. The PLA-based samples demonstrated typical brittle behaviour, with elongation at break one order of magnitude lower. Impact tests demonstrated that the PETG-based samples had better properties in terms of energy absorption. Moreover, 3D-printed PETG samples demonstrated a better surface finishing with a more homogenous fibre–fibre interface. In summary, we demonstrate that the right choice of material and printing conditions are fundamental to satisfy the quality and functionality required for a scoliosis back brace.

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

General Materials Science

Reference57 articles.

1. Idiopathic Scoliosis

2. Health and Function of Patients With Untreated Idiopathic Scoliosis

3. Orthoses Development Using Modern Technologies;Štefanovič,2021

4. Materials Science;Lunsford,2019

5. Current and Future Manufacturing of Chest Orthoses, Considering the Case of Osteogenesis Imperfecta;Redaelli;Proceedings of the ASME 2018 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference,2018

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3