Influence of Reactive Chain Extension on the Properties of 3D Printed Poly(Lactic Acid) Constructs

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is currently the most popular 3D printing method, where thermoplastic polymers are predominantly used. Among them, the biobased poly(lactic acid) (PLA) governs the FDM filament market, with demand higher than supply, since not all grades of PLA are suitable for FDM filament production. In this work, the effect of a food grade chain extender (Joncryl ADR^® 4400) on the physicochemical properties and printability of PLA marketed for injection molding was examined. All samples were characterized in terms of their mechanical and thermal properties. The microstructure of the filaments and 3D-printed fractured surfaces following tensile testing were examined with optical and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Molecular weight and complex viscosity increased, while the melt flow index decreased after the incorporation of Joncryl, which resulted in filaments of improved quality and 3D-printed constructs with enhanced mechanical properties. Dielectric spectroscopy revealed that the bulk properties of PLA with respect to molecular mobility, both local and segmental, were, interestingly, not affected by the modifier. Indirectly, this may suggest that the major effects of the extender are on chain length, without inducing chain branching, at least not to a significant extent.

Study on Shape Memory Effects of LC Epoxy Resins with Lateral Substituents

A series of shape memorized liquid crystalline epoxides with different length of lateral substituents were prepared with several kinds of hardener. The dynamic mechanical analysis and the sharp memory properties of the resulted LC epoxy resins were studied by POM, WAXD, DSC and DMA. The results showed that the modulus in the rubbery region (ER) of the LC epoxides decreases as the length of lateral alkyl groups increases. And the shape memory properties were strongly impacted not only by the length of lateral substituents, but also by the kinds of hardener. The recovering speeds of the shape-memory liquid crystalline epoxides decrease as the increasing length of lateral alkyl groups. And recovering speeds of LC epoxides cured with aromatic amine (DDM) are faster than that of LC epoxides cured with anhydride (THHPA). The local ordered structures and the lateral substituents played an important role in shape memory effects.