David A. Roberson
The University of Texas, USA
Title: Novel Sustainable Biopolymer-based 3D-printable Materials
Biography
Biography: David A. Roberson
Abstract
The plant-derived biopolymer, polylactic acid (PLA) has experienced a rapid growth in the area disposable food container applications due to its biodegradability. In the area of consumer-grade 3D printing based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, PLA is rapidly becoming the material of choice due in part to its perceived safety as compared to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). As is the case with many other polymers, the applicability of PLA is hindered due to restrictions related to the physical properties of the material. The work presented here explores the modification of PLA through the addition of sustainable additives. Retaining compatibility with 3D printing systems while at the same time augmenting the physical properties of the biopolymer is addressed. Materials characterization of the novel PLA-based composites involving mechanical testing and fractography carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with be used to understand the effect of the additives on physical strength and failure modes. The effect of additives on biodegradability of 3D printed test coupons will also be presented.