Mechanical properties, morphology and chemical interactions of 3D printed polylactic acid/bio-based polyurethane blends

Mohd Nazeri, Fatin Nurafiqah and Anuar, Hazleen and Manshor, Mohd Romainor (2025) Mechanical properties, morphology and chemical interactions of 3D printed polylactic acid/bio-based polyurethane blends. In: ICAMME 2024, 13–14 August 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and degradable polymeric materials derived from renewable resources has led to the widespread adoption of polylactic acid (PLA) due to its biodegradability, renewable sourcing, and notable mechanical strength. Despite these advantages, PLA's inherent brittleness limits its use in extrusion and 3D printing applications. This study investigates the incorporation of bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (bTPU) to improve the flexibility and toughness of PLA. PLA/bTPU blends were produced with varying bTPU content (10, 20, 30, 40 wt%) and analyzed for their mechanical properties, morphologies, and chemical characteristics. Tensile testing revealed a significant decrease in tensile strength with increasing bTPU content, from 50.39 MPa for pure PLA to 21.8 MPa for PLA60. However, the elongation at break increased dramatically, from 11.73% for pure PLA to 944.14% for the blend with PLA60, indicating enhanced flexibility and ductility. Results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a transition from smooth, brittle fracture surfaces in pure PLA to rougher, ductile surfaces in all samples of PLA/bTPU blends. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that during the extrusion process of blending PLA and bTPU, no new chemical bonds were formed, suggesting that the blend is a result of physical mixing instead of chemical reaction. These findings demonstrate the potential of PLA/bTPU blends for advanced 3D printing applications, offering a balance between mechanical strength and flexibility. This study highlights the promise of using renewable, biodegradable materials to develop advanced polymer blends, contributing to sustainable manufacturing practices and environmental conservation.

Item Type:	Proceeding Paper (Invited Papers)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Polylactic acid (PLA), Bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (bTPU), 3D printing
Subjects:	T Technology > TS Manufactures > TS195 Packaging
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Engineering > Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering
Depositing User:	Dr Hazleen Anuar
Date Deposited:	30 May 2025 09:12
Last Modified:	30 May 2025 09:12
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/121275

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