Preparation and characterization of a newly developed polyamide composite utilising an affordable 3D printer

In this work, the potential of polyamide composite prepared by a 3D printer was evaluated. Polyamide 12 was compounded with 5wt% hydroxyapatite and 15wt% zirconium oxide fillers via a twin screw extruder. The compound was then pelletized prior to the preparation of the filament by a desktop filament extruder. The filament was finally applied to a 3D printer to prepare the printed tensile samples. Pure polyamide 12 and commercial polyamide filament, Taulman 618, were also printed and tested for control. Melt flow and thermal analysis were carried out to estimate the processing conditions. Tensile test was also conducted to evaluate the strength and modulus. The new polyamide composite was successfully prepared and tested. The strength of polyamide composite was comparable to Taulman 618. The modulus of the composite was improved due to the incorporation of fillers. The morphology of the printed composite was porous, which could provide pros and cons to biological and mechanical properties, respectively. Polyamide composite presented a promising polymer material for a 3D printer and may be applied for biomaterial application.