MICROSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SIC–AL₂O₃ REINFORCED PLA COMPOSITES FABRICATED FOR FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING

Abstract

Owing to its ease of processing and biodegradability, polyactic acid (PLA) is an instrumental thermoplastic in fused deposition modelling (FDM). Besides, the properties, such as mechanical performance and thermal stability are inadequate, thereby limiting the use of neat PLA for advanced engineering applications. In this study, a hybrid PLA composite is developed by reinforcing the neat PLA with silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles. Further, the developed hybrid PLA composite is characterized to investigate its microstructural properties, followed by the preparation of the components through controlled drying, blending, and filament extrusion. The significant propertiesof the prepared composites are investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The inclusion of SiC and Al2O3 nanoparticles improved the crystallinity of the composites, as inferred by the XRD analysis. Enhanced interfacial particle dispersion and interactions between reinforcements and the PLA matrix are observed through FESEM analysis. The presence of carbon, silicon, aluminum, and oxygen is detected through EDS analysis. Thus, the hybrid ceramic composite yields improved microstructural and properties of PLA, making it suitable for developing composite filaments which are desirable for advanced FDM-based engineering applications.