Biochar reinforced PLA composite for fused deposition modelling (FDM): A parametric study on mechanical performance

Rice husk biochar was added to polylactic acid (PLA) to create a biocomposite filament suitable for the extrusionbased 3D printing process of fused deposition modelling (FDM). Taguchi L16 was used for experiment design, and the significance of process parameters was determined using variance analysis (ANOVA). For a 0.3-mm layer thickness, the addition of 5 wt.% biochar resulted in ultimate tensile strength and a modulus of elasticity of 36 MPa and 1103 MPa, respectively. The addition of biochar had a negative influence on flexural strength. The maximum flexural modulus was obtained with 3 % biochar, 100 % infill density, and 0.1 mm layer thickness. Particularly, 1 % biochar resulted in a considerable increase in impact strength, while a subsequent rise in biochar resulted in a decrease, probably due to the agglomeration effect. For 3D printed neat PLA, the average tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength observed were 19 MPa, 550 MPa, 54 MPa, 1981 MPa, and 25 KJ/m2, respectively. Additionally, considering the output of each test, a multicriteria decision-making model, namely, TOPSIS, has been utilized for ranking the mechanical performance. In order to optimise the mechanical properties of three-dimensional printed objects, the study suggests a layer thickness of 0.2 mm, an infill density of 100 %, and raster angle of 0 degrees as the FDM process parameters.

Automated summary

Rice husk biochar was added to PLA to create a biocomposite filament suitable for FDM 3D printing. The study investigated the impact of process parameters on the mechanical properties of the printed objects. Adding biochar at different ratios affected the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength of the printed objects. Optimal FDM process parameters were identified for maximizing mechanical performance.