Potential for Natural Fiber Reinforcement in PLA Polymer Filaments for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Additive...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing
• Polymer Composites

Background:

• Additive Manufacturing (AM), specifically Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), offers cost-effective production for small-batch or high-variety items.
• Composite filaments simplify FDM printing with minimal hardware modifications.
• Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites are gaining market traction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of kenaf fiber (KF) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composite filaments for FDM 3D printing.
• To promote the use of KF in PLA composite filaments for AM applications.
• To identify challenges and concerns for the long-term sustainability and market acceptance of KF/PLA composite filaments.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites, particularly KF/PLA for FDM.
• Analysis of existing research on challenges in natural fiber composite printing.
• Identification of key areas for future research and development.

Main Results:

• Kenaf fibers offer good strength reinforcement, low cost, and light weight for PLA composites.
• Despite benefits, KF/PLA composite filaments for FDM are underrepresented in current studies.
• Key challenges include uneven printing, nozzle clogging, and inhomogeneous fiber distribution.

Conclusions:

• KF/PLA composite filaments show significant promise for FDM 3D printing applications.
• Addressing eight specific challenges is crucial for promoting natural fiber composites in AM.
• Further research is needed to ensure the long-term sustainability and market viability of KF/PLA filaments.