Processing Biodegradable Fused Filament Fabrication Waste with Micro-Silica Particles

Abstract

Microparticles of sand silica have been mixed with biodegradable waste (polylactic acid) from the fused filament fabrication process to investigate the impact on the mechanical properties. The composite mixtures were prepared using different compositions via a twin extrusion machine. Mechanical characterization using the Tensile Testing Machine was performed. The peak strength values indicated that increasing silica composition increased the tensile strength from 62.8 MPa at 0 wt% to 121.03 MPa at 10 wt%. However, a drop was observed beyond this point. It was concluded that for the yield strength, toughness, and failure strain, a similar trend was observed, and the values of the material increased up to 10 wt%, which corresponds to the increased mechanical property of the mixtures with reinforcement of silica microparticles. It is demonstrated that the mechanical properties have been improved for the processed material attributing to the impact of the recycling process of the polylactic acid from leftover 3D printing waste and promoting its potential reuse in the same application.