Natural fibre composites for 3D Printing

Arcada Degree Programme: Plastic Technology Identification number: 11701 Author: Kapil Pandey Title: Natural fibre composites for 3D Printing Supervisor (Arcada): Valeria Poliakova, SimoPekka Toivonen Examiner: Mirja Andersson Abstract: 3D printing has been common option for prototyping. Not all the materials are suitable for 3D printing. Various studies have been done and still many are ongoing regarding the suitability of the materials for 3D printing. This thesis work discloses the possibility of 3D printing of certain polymer composite materials. The main objective of this thesis work was to study the possibility for 3D printing the polymer composite material composed of natural fibre composite and various different thermoplastic materials. The natural fibre composite (UPMFORMI GP40) was mixed with different polymers (HDPE, LDPE, PS and PP) at different ratio and the mixture was extruded to obtain the filament. The obtained filament was experimented with 3D printer to study its feasibility. The thesis explains the selection of materials, extrusion process for filament extraction and possibility of forming new product through 3D printing. The study reveals the polymer composite filament obtained from the extrusion shows the possibility of making new product through 3D printing. However, the expected result was not obtained due to various limitation and required further research. 3D printing has been common option for prototyping. Not all the materials are suitable for 3D printing. Various studies have been done and still many are ongoing regarding the suitability of the materials for 3D printing. This thesis work discloses the possibility of 3D printing of certain polymer composite materials. The main objective of this thesis work was to study the possibility for 3D printing the polymer composite material composed of natural fibre composite and various different thermoplastic materials. The natural fibre composite (UPMFORMI GP40) was mixed with different polymers (HDPE, LDPE, PS and PP) at different ratio and the mixture was extruded to obtain the filament. The obtained filament was experimented with 3D printer to study its feasibility. The thesis explains the selection of materials, extrusion process for filament extraction and possibility of forming new product through 3D printing. The study reveals the polymer composite filament obtained from the extrusion shows the possibility of making new product through 3D printing. However, the expected result was not obtained due to various limitation and required further research.