CHARACTERIZATION OF BICOMPONENT 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS

Abstract

Reducing the effect of human activities on the environment, natural resources and public health has become one of the essential concerns of researchers around the world. Biodegradable materials are suitable alternatives to petrochemical-derived materials and have essential roles in environmental protection due to reduced use of fossil-based raw materials and decreased carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, there is a growing interest in biodegradable materials, which degrade faster than conventional materials. The current study aims to analyze the use of biodegradable polymer materials in Additive Manufacturing, through bi-component 3D printing. In Additive Manufacturing-AM, parts are manufactured layer by layer with minimal allocation for finishing operations. Because AM enables greater material savings than traditional processes, 3D printing can be considered a distributed manufacturing technology to improve sustainability and the circular economy worldwide.