Development of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) PBAT toughened poly (lactic acid) blends 3D printing filament

The additive manufacturing (AM) industry mainly utilized petroleum-based polymer filament, which is non-renewable and emission of greenhouse gases that pollute the environment. This research focuses on the employ of renewable resources for the preparation of biodegradable, eco-friendly filament uses in various sectors and as a better alternative to the petroleum-based filament. A poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) PBAT toughened virgin poly (lactic acid) (V-PLA) blend biodegradable filament was developed for 3D printing application by the addition of PBAT with a varying wt.% of 10,20, 30, and 40% by melt blending and extrusion process. Afterward, the studied effect of PBAT on the physicochemical, mechanical, thermal, and morphological characteristics of the virgin PLA, PLA/PBAT blend filament, and its specimen was examined. The mechanical testing results confirmed that the inclusion of 30 wt.% PBAT into the PLA matrix enhanced the elongation (%) of PLA/PBAT blend filament and its specimen of 3.08% to 13.91% and 5.85% to 9.05% respectively as well as higher impact strength of 5.30 kJ/m(2) blend specimen contrasted to the virgin PLA. Further, the heat resistance and thermal stability properties of the PLA/PBAT blend filament do not influence by the incorporation of PBAT were explored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The fracture morphology and crystalline structure were explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively. The current investigation enhanced the application of PLA/PBAT blend filament in 3D printing technology.

Automated summary

The study focused on developing a biodegradable filament made from renewable resources as a more environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based polymer filament. By incorporating PBAT into the PLA matrix, the mechanical properties of the filament were improved, making it suitable for 3D printing applications. Additionally, the thermal and morphological characteristics of the blend filament were examined through various testing methods.