Tensile Behavior of PLA and PLA Composite Materials Under Different Printing Parameters

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most extensively used biodegradable aliphatic polyester produced from renewable resources, such as corn starch. Due to its qualities, PLA is a leading biomaterial for numerous applications in medicine as well as in industry, replacing conventional petrochemical - based polymers. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the mechanical properties, such as tensile stress, of pure PLA specimens in comparison with PLA based-composites, with three different added materials in PLA mass: Copper, Aluminum and Graphene, as well as the influence of filament angle deposition on these properties. In order to check if the the filling density of the specimen influences the ultimate tensile stress (UTS), three different filling percentages (60%, 80% and 100%) have been chosen in the experimental tests. In this context, the mechanical characteristics of four different filament types based on PLA material, starting from pure PLA to PLA with Aluminum, Copper or Graphene filler are compared. Understanding and controlling these parameters is essential for the successful use of PLA and PLA-based composites in different areas such as medical applications, sport equipments and light industry.These tests have been performed due to the fact there is a lack of information concerning the mechanical properties. In the scientific literature, such information is only available for expensive printing systems; for open source printers (as those used in these tests), the information is poor and for some new materials, even inexistant. According to the technical specifications, for an expensive printer the cost may exceed 3000 Euros, with a minimum layer resolution of 100 m, this type of printer can reliably reproduce many 3D objects accurately, in quiter conditions.