3D printing technology is an emerging method that gained extensive attention from researchers worldwide, especially in the health and medical fields. Biopolymers are an emerging class of materials offering excellent properties and flexibility for additive manufacturing. Biopolymers are widely used in biomedical applications in biosensing, immunotherapy, drug delivery, tissue engineering and regeneration, implants, and medical devices. Various biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymeric materials are considered as bio-ink for 3d printing. Here, we offer an extensive literature review on the current applications of synthetic biopolymers in the field of 3D printing. A trend in the publication of biopolymers in the last 10 years are focused on the review by analyzing more than 100 publications. Their application and classification based on biodegradability are discussed. The various studies, along with their practical applications, are elaborated in the subsequent sections for polyethylene, polypropylene, polycaprolactone, polylactide, etc. for biomedical applications. The disadvantages of various biopolymers are discussed, and future perspectives like combating biocompatibility problems using 3D printed biomaterials to build compatible prosthetics are also discussed and the potential application of using resin with the combination of biopolymers to build customized implants, personalized drug delivery systems and organ on a chip technologies are expected to open a new set of chances for the development of healthcare and regenerative medicine in the future. Graphical Abstract
Interfacial adhesion of composite materials plays an important role in their mechanical properties and performance. In the present investigation, analysis of the interfacial properties of self-reinforced polyamide composites by using microbond multiple fibre pull-out test is emphasised. Microbond specimens prepared through thermal processing are tested for their interfacial properties by multiple fibre bundle pull-out tests and compared with that of traditional single fibre pull-out test specimens. Multiple fibre pull-out addresses the volume fraction as well as eliminates the possibility of fibre breakage before matrix shear. Higher scatter in the data in the samples is addressed in the present studies. FTIR and Fractographic studies are carried out for deep understanding of the post pull-out interfacial adhesion.
4 August 2022 in Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials
This study covers a low-velocity impact property analysis of Polyethylene self-reinforced composites (PET-HDPE/HDPE SRC)through experimental and numerical methods emphasizing the influence of interfacial properties. Self-reinforcing a polymer material has gained a lot of attention due to maximum exploration of their light density characteristics with better chemical compatibility and interfacial adhesion of matrix and reinforcement, resulting in higher fuel efficiency. Reusability of self-reinforced thermoplastic composites even without separating their constituent materials has been observed to be aiding the circular economy strategies. The study aimed to analyze the peak load characteristics, energy-absorbing characteristics, and damage response of these materials processed through the hot compaction technique and subjected to a drop mass impact test. Fractographic visual inspection, optical macrographs, Scanning electron microscopy analysis, and through transmission ultrasonic C-scan were employed to study the damage evolution and failure mechanisms under the low-velocity impact. Three levels of impact energy were included in the test matrix, and initiation of the damage, nature of the matrix, interface debonding, matrix and fibre failures could be identified through the inspection of the damage cross-section at the impact eye. A finite element model developed through commercial FEA packages (Abaqus) was utilized for the complex mechanisms of damage and failure. Weak interfacial adhesion due to the self-lubricating nature of the polyethylene fibre surface contributed to the fibre pull out during the drop weight impact. A qualitative analysis and correlation of the nature of surface damage and internal damage were also studied, which are the factors that are necessary for the development of cargo containers and marine/aerospace ultralight luggage applications.