Wearable properties of polylactic acid and thermoplastic polyurethane filaments 3D printed on polyester fabric

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing on textile substrates is a promising method to create objects with a variety of different materials that have tailored mechanical properties. This synthesis of technology is favored by current researchers to retain the characteristics of 3D printing while maintaining the wear comfort of fabrics. Although the importance and potential of textile-based 3D printing have been recognized, it is worth noting that there is still a lack of comprehensive studies on the basic wearable properties. In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are extruded separately onto polyester fabric. Then the wearable properties are examined through bending, compression, thermal conductivity, and thermography tests, which are carried out by using the KES-FB system and a thermal imager. The results indicate that the printed PLA on polyester fabric has a better washing resistance than the printed TPU on polyester fabric with a smaller reduction in the peel force after different washing cycles. The rate of decline of the printed TPU samples is 53.2%, which is more than twice that of the printed PLA samples (20.4%) after 30 washing cycles. In terms of the physical and thermal properties, the results show that the bending rigidity, bending hysteresis, compression energy, k values, and thermal insulation properties of the PLA and TPU samples are generally well-correlated with the number of printed layers. Further applications can be explored based on the results reported in this paper.