Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimization
Novel green composites were developed using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and plasticized cellulose acetate (pCA) to assess their viability for application in additive manufacturing (AM), specifically fused filament fabrication (FFF). This study represents one of the first attempts to fabricate a...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Composites Part C: Open Access |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682025000490 |
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| author | Laura Daniela Hernandez-Ruiz Malik Hassan Tao Wang Amar K. Mohanty Manjusri Misra |
| author_facet | Laura Daniela Hernandez-Ruiz Malik Hassan Tao Wang Amar K. Mohanty Manjusri Misra |
| author_sort | Laura Daniela Hernandez-Ruiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Novel green composites were developed using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and plasticized cellulose acetate (pCA) to assess their viability for application in additive manufacturing (AM), specifically fused filament fabrication (FFF). This study represents one of the first attempts to fabricate and optimize a sustainable MCC-pCA composite for use as a 3D printing filament. The Taguchi L27 experimental design was employed to optimize five critical FFF parameters, namely nozzle temperature, printing speed, infill density, raster angle, and layer height, with the objective of maximizing mechanical performance. Optimal printing parameters were determined to be a nozzle temperature of 230 °C, a printing speed of 1800 mm/min, an infill density of 100 %, a raster angle of 0°, and a layer height of 0.15 mm. Under these conditions, the 3D-printed samples exhibited mechanical properties comparable to those of injection-molded counterparts, with a 37 % increase in impact strength. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of the optimized 3D-printed sample was 89.36 μm/m °C (perpendicular) and 65.39 μm/m °C (parallel), demonstrating lower thermal expansion than injection-molded counterparts (108.65 μm/m °C and 47.06 μm/m °C, respectively). Furthermore, the heat deflection temperature (HDT) of the optimized 3D-printed sample was 92.18 °C, surpassing that of injection-molded samples (69.59 °C), indicating superior thermal resistance in the 3D-printed part. As a proof-of-concept, a 3D printed finger splint was fabricated using the optimized parameters, showcasing the potential of this sustainable composite for biomedical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-94de4cc105104fed87f3600cbb7d17c5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-6820 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Composites Part C: Open Access |
| spelling | doaj-art-94de4cc105104fed87f3600cbb7d17c52025-08-20T02:17:28ZengElsevierComposites Part C: Open Access2666-68202025-07-011710060610.1016/j.jcomc.2025.100606Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimizationLaura Daniela Hernandez-Ruiz0Malik Hassan1Tao Wang2Amar K. Mohanty3Manjusri Misra4School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Thornbrough Building, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Crop Science Building, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, CanadaSchool of Engineering, University of Guelph, Thornbrough Building, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Crop Science Building, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, CanadaBioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Crop Science Building, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, CanadaSchool of Engineering, University of Guelph, Thornbrough Building, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Crop Science Building, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Corresponding authors.School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Thornbrough Building, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre, Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Crop Science Building, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Corresponding authors.Novel green composites were developed using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and plasticized cellulose acetate (pCA) to assess their viability for application in additive manufacturing (AM), specifically fused filament fabrication (FFF). This study represents one of the first attempts to fabricate and optimize a sustainable MCC-pCA composite for use as a 3D printing filament. The Taguchi L27 experimental design was employed to optimize five critical FFF parameters, namely nozzle temperature, printing speed, infill density, raster angle, and layer height, with the objective of maximizing mechanical performance. Optimal printing parameters were determined to be a nozzle temperature of 230 °C, a printing speed of 1800 mm/min, an infill density of 100 %, a raster angle of 0°, and a layer height of 0.15 mm. Under these conditions, the 3D-printed samples exhibited mechanical properties comparable to those of injection-molded counterparts, with a 37 % increase in impact strength. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of the optimized 3D-printed sample was 89.36 μm/m °C (perpendicular) and 65.39 μm/m °C (parallel), demonstrating lower thermal expansion than injection-molded counterparts (108.65 μm/m °C and 47.06 μm/m °C, respectively). Furthermore, the heat deflection temperature (HDT) of the optimized 3D-printed sample was 92.18 °C, surpassing that of injection-molded samples (69.59 °C), indicating superior thermal resistance in the 3D-printed part. As a proof-of-concept, a 3D printed finger splint was fabricated using the optimized parameters, showcasing the potential of this sustainable composite for biomedical applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682025000490Cellulose acetateMicrocrystalline celluloseAdditive manufacturing (AM)Fused filament fabrication (FFF)Injection moldingMechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Laura Daniela Hernandez-Ruiz Malik Hassan Tao Wang Amar K. Mohanty Manjusri Misra Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimization Composites Part C: Open Access Cellulose acetate Microcrystalline cellulose Additive manufacturing (AM) Fused filament fabrication (FFF) Injection molding Mechanical properties |
| title | Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimization |
| title_full | Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimization |
| title_fullStr | Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimization |
| title_short | Sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate: 3D printing and performance optimization |
| title_sort | sustainable composites from microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose acetate 3d printing and performance optimization |
| topic | Cellulose acetate Microcrystalline cellulose Additive manufacturing (AM) Fused filament fabrication (FFF) Injection molding Mechanical properties |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666682025000490 |
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