Investigation of Mechanical and Printing Properties of Poly(Lactıic Acid) and Composite Filaments Used in 3d Printers

In this study, it was investigated how the mechanical and printing properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and composite filaments, which are increasingly used in 3D printers, change in a humid environment. PLA filament, PLA/Graphite and PLA/Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) composite filaments were used in the experiments. The filaments were exposed to 80% relative humidity for 15 days, then standard dog-bone specimens were printed from these filaments. Tensile test was applied to filaments and printed specimens, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) analyzes were made, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of specimens and fracture surfaces were obtained. When the experiments were evaluated, it was observed that the print quality and tensile strength of 3D prints made from PLA, PLA/Graphite composite filaments exposed to humid environment decreased, while the print quality and tensile strength of PLA/PHB composite filament increased.