Preparation of starch/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS) biomass alloys and their feasible evaluation for 3D printing applications

With debranching and plasticization of starches, we have successfully prepared thermoplastic starches (TPS) with high processibility by a twin-screw extruder. Afterwards, the TPS have blended with appropriate amounts of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), compatibilizers, impact modifiers, and pigments to compound in a twin-screw extruder, manufacturing TPS/ABS biomass alloys. Finally, we have prepared white and black filaments, whose diameters of 1.75 mm, for additive manufacturing (AM) with TPS/ABS biomass alloys by a single-screw extruder as well as proper mold and also executed their measurement of physical properties. In addition, their feasible evaluation for 3D printing applications has also been made. Experimental results reveal that physical properties of lab-made white and black filaments (i.e. mechanical properties, thermal resistance, flowability, and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) are superior to those of commercial ABS filaments and the shaping samples for 3D printing have also been successfully fabricated, preliminarily demonstrating that they are potential biomass polymeric materials with excellent physical performances and high processibility for 3D printing utilizations. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.