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. 2024 Apr 10;16(8):1035.
doi: 10.3390/polym16081035.

Effect of Aging on Tensile and Chemical Properties of Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid-Like Polymer Materials for Additive Manufacturing

Zorana Golubović  1 , Božica Bojović  1 , Snežana Kirin  2 , Aleksa Milovanović  2 , Ljubiša Petrov  2 , Boban Anđelković  3 , Ivana Sofrenić  3
Affiliations

Effect of Aging on Tensile and Chemical Properties of Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid-Like Polymer Materials for Additive Manufacturing

Zorana Golubović et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Additive manufacturing, with its fast development and application of polymeric materials, led to the wide utilization of polylactic acid (PLA) materials. As a biodegradable and biocompatible aliphatic polyester, produced from renewable sources, PLA is widely used in different sectors, from industry to medicine and science. The aim of this research is to determine the differences between two forms of the PLA material, i.e., fused deposition modeling (FDM) printed filament and digital light processing (DLP) printed resin, followed by aging due to environmental and hygiene maintenance conditions for a period of two months. Specimens underwent 3D scanning, tensile testing, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry to obtain insights into the material changes that occurred. Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis was subsequently carried out to determine the statistical significance of the determined changes. Significant impairment can be observed in the dimensional accuracies between both materials, whether they are non-aged or aged. The mechanical properties fluctuated for aged FDM specimens: 15% for ultimate tensile stress, 15% for elongation at yield, and 12% for elastic modulus. Regarding the DLP aged specimens, the UTS decreased by 61%, elongation at yield by around 61%, and elastic modulus by 62%. According to the FTIR spectral analysis, the PLA materials degraded, especially in the case of resin specimens. Aging also showed a significant influence on the elastic modulus, ultimate tensile stress, elongation at yield, elongation at break, and toughness of both materials, which was statistically shown by means of a two-way ANOVA test. The data collected in this research give a better understanding of the underlying aging mechanism of PLA materials.

Keywords: 3D printing; 3D scanning; Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR); PLA; PLA-like resin; additive manufacturing; digital light processing (DLP); fused deposition modeling (FDM); statistical analysis; tensile testing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of 3D scan of tensile FDM non-aged specimen and (a) CAD model and (b) aged specimen.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of 3D scan of tensile DLP non-aged specimen and (a) CAD model and (b) aged specimen.
Figure 3
Figure 3
FTIR spectra comparison of three aged groups (i.e., immediately after specimen printing and after 1 and 2 months of aging) for (a) FDM and (b) DLP specimens.
Figure 4
Figure 4
FDM and DLP specimens’ aging: (a) elastic modulus; (b) ultimate tensile stress; (c) elongation at yield (%); (d) elongation at break; (e) toughness.
Figure 4
Figure 4
FDM and DLP specimens’ aging: (a) elastic modulus; (b) ultimate tensile stress; (c) elongation at yield (%); (d) elongation at break; (e) toughness.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Tensile curve comparison of aging for (a) FDM and (b) DLP specimens.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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