Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most suitable materials for 3D printing. Blending with nanoparticles improves some of its properties, broadening its application possibilities. The article presents a study of composite PLA matrix filaments with added unmodified and lignin/polymerised lignin surface-modified nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC). The influence of untreated and surface-modified NFC on morphological, mechanical, technological, infrared spectroscopic, and dynamic mechanical properties was evaluated for different groups of samples. As determined by the stereo and scanning electron microscopy, the unmodified and surface-modified NFCs with lignin and polymerised lignin were present in the form of plate-shaped agglomerates. The addition of NFC slightly reduced the filaments’ tensile strength, stretchability, and ability to absorb energy, while in contrast, the initial modulus slightly improved. By adding NFC to the PLA matrix, the bending storage modulus (E’) decreased slightly at lower temperatures, especially in the PLA samples with 3 wt% and 5 wt% NFC. When NFC was modified with lignin and polymerised lignin, an increase in E’ was noticed, especially in the glassy state.

In the present research, the properties of ultraviolet (UV) visible (daylight invisible) fluorescent coatings modified by the addition of SiO₂ and TiO₂ nanoparticles were studied. Structural, surface, and mechanical properties and changes in the coatings caused by accelerated ageing were analyzed. The results showed that the addition of nanoparticles caused the changes in unaged and aged printed coatings. Reflectance measurements of modified coatings showed that addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles improved the visual effect of the unaged coatings. Furthermore, results have shown that the addition of SiO₂ did not diminish the reflectance of the modified coatings after ageing. The results of roughness measurements showed that the addition of SiO₂ decreased roughness after the ageing process, probably due to the degradation process indicated by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The roughness of the coatings with TiO₂ nanoparticles was increased after the ageing on the samples with higher concentrations of TiO₂ due to the agglomerates of plastisol formed on the surface of the coatings, visible in SEM images. Surface analysis of coatings showed that TiO₂ caused an increase in the polarity of the surface coatings. Results of the bending stiffness showed that the addition of the nanoparticles to the coating, especially of SiO₂, significantly improved the bending stiffness of the unaged samples.

In this study, the mechanical and thermal properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends with an addition of poly(ε–caprolactone) (PCL) and fumed silica (SiO₂) were evaluated to research the possibility of their use as relief printing plates for embossing processes. PCL and nano-silica were added to the PLA matrix at different concentrations. Morphological, thermal and mechanical analyses were performed to determine the properties and possible functional characteristics of the studied blends. SEM micrographs showed that unmodified PLA/PCL blends exhibit a morphology typical of incompatible blends with clearly visible spherical domains of dispersed PCL in PLA. In particular, the results of the hardness tests showed that the selected blends have the optimal hardness (between 65 SH D and 75 SH D) for use in the embossing process. The tensile tests showed that the addition of nano-silica to neat PLA and to the PLA/PCL blends 50/50 and 60/40 improved the mechanical properties of the blends, especially stiffness and toughness. The DMA results showed that the addition of smaller amounts of SiO₂ can contribute to an increase in storage modulus, which is due to good dispersion and distribution of SiO₂ in the matrix. DSC analysis showed that the addition of PCL to PLA polymer increased the thermal stability of PLA and that the addition of nano-silica increased the degree of crystallinity of PLA. The TGA results showed that the addition of nano-silica improved the thermal degradation behavior of the studied blends, especially for blends modified with 3 wt% nano-silica. The results show that it is possible to optimize the mechanical and thermal properties of the blends with the aim of using them in the embossing process.

Mobile technology offers new opportunities to enhance the visitor experience in museums. Mobile serious games can support experiential learning with authentic exhibits in an authentic museum environment based on the contextual learning model with the interaction between the personal, socio-cultural, and physical context. In developing the game, we wondered whether it could appropriately motivate and engage different age groups in the museum experience with its challenges of different difficulty levels; whether a mobile game could, through its challenges interacting with the museum environment, prevent “head-down” behavior; and whether museum exhibits could be better recalled by visitors participating in a tour with a mobile game than in two other traditional tours (i.e., guided tours, tours with museum brochures). The results of the study showed that a tour with a mobile serious game with challenges of different difficulty levels is suitable for visitors of two target groups (i.e., families and students). Since each challenge encourages interaction with the museum environment, it could largely prevent “head-down” behavior. The results also show that a tour with appropriately planned multisensory challenges motivates visitors to actively engage with the museum environment, resulting in slightly better recall of exhibits compared to other tour types. The results of this study can help bring museums and the history they represent closer to digital generations, ¹ and popularize modern informal learning methods associated with incidental and experiential lifelong learning that can take place anytime, anywhere, and help achieve higher taxonomic knowledge levels.

The aim of this research was to investigate how retailers advertise the green packaging of green products offered in online shops and which packaging attributes should be given more attention when advertising products in online shops. For this purpose, we first conducted a preliminary analysis of 31 green products sold in Slovenian online shops. We found that green packaging is generally poorly advertised in online shops, although it could be a competitive advantage for retailers. To prove that there are attributes of green packaging in relation to other attributes when purchasing green products, we conducted a questionnaire using the included MaxDiff method. The questionnaire was answered by 134 Slovenian respondents. Based on the results, we found that less than one‐third of the respondents trust the manufacturer's information about green products, two‐thirds of the respondents are willing to pay more for green products as they believe that the quality of these products is higher than of comparable non‐green products, and that our respondents have trust in the labels “Made in Slovenia” and “Locally grown,” although more than one‐third of the respondents buy green products regardless of the country of origin. The results of the MaxDiff analysis showed that three attributes associated with green packaging are more important when buying green products and should be highlighted in the description of a product also in online shops, that is, the material of the packaging, the possibility of its reuse, and ecolabels.

The aim of the study was to analyse the colour fastness of 3D printed samples that could be used as decorative or household items. Such items are often fabricated with 3D printing. The colour of filaments affects not only the mechanical properties, but also the appearance and user satisfaction. Samples of biocomposite filaments (PLA and PLA with added wood and hemp fibres) were used. First, the morphological properties of the filaments and 3D printed samples were analysed and then, the colour fastness against different agents was tested (water, oil, detergent, light and elevated temperature). Finally, the dynamic mechanical properties of the filaments and 3D printed samples were determined. The differences in the morphology of the filaments and 3D printed samples were identified with SEM analysis. The most obvious differences were observed in the samples with wood fibres. All printed samples showed good resistance to water and detergents, but poorer resistance to oil. The sample printed with filaments with added wood fibres showed the lowest colour fastness against light and elevated temperatures. Compared to the filaments, the glass transition of the printed samples increased, while their stiffness decreased significantly. The lowest elasticity was observed in the samples with wood fibres. The filaments to which hemp fibres were added showed the reinforcement effect. Without the influence on their elasticity, the printed samples can be safely used between 60 and 65 °C.