US446: DEVELOPMENT OF POLYLACTIC ACID/POLYAMIDE 12 FOR 3D PRINTING

Muhammad Hafiz Musyrif Bin Adnan Universiti Teknologi Mara UiTM

The advancement of sustainable materials in additive manufacturing has prompted extensive research into biodegradable polymers, particularly polylactic acid (PLA). Despite its favorable environmental profile, PLA exhibits inherent limitations such as low impact strength, brittleness, and poor thermal resistance, which restrict its broader application in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). This study investigates the development and rheological characterization of PLA and Polyamide 12 (PA12) composite feedstocks intended for FDM applications. PLA was blended with PA12 in three different weight ratios (80:20, 70:30, and 60:40) using a twin screw extruder under controlled conditions.  Rheological behavior was examined using a capillary rheometer at multiple shear rates and temperatures (180 to 200 degrees Celsius) to determine flow consistency, viscosity profiles, and the flow behavior index (n). The results confirmed non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic flow behavior in all compositions, with improved flowability observed at higher PA12 content. These findings indicate that PLA and PA12 blends possess suitable rheological characteristics for filament extrusion and lay the groundwork for further optimization in FDM 3D printing applications.