Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
08:12
Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
Published on: December 16, 2022
3.4K
Polymer Composites with Cork Particles Functionalized by Surface Polymerization for Fused Deposition Modeling
Alberto S de León1, Fernando Núñez-Gálvez1, Daniel Moreno-Sánchez1
1Dpto. Ciencia de los Materiales, I. M. y Q. I., IMEYMAT, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Río San Pedro, s/n, Puerto Real (Cádiz) 11510, Spain.
ACS Applied Polymer Materials
|February 21, 2022
Summary
This study valorizes industrial cork byproduct into advanced composite materials for 3D printing using acrylonitrile-styrene-butyl acrylate (ASA). Surface modification of cork with poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) enhances compatibility, improving mechanical and thermal insulating properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Cork powder, a byproduct of local industries, presents an opportunity for material valorization.
- Acrylonitrile-styrene-butyl acrylate (ASA) is a suitable polymer matrix due to its mechanical strength and weather resistance.
- Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) requires specialized composite filaments for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel composite materials from cork powder and ASA for FDM applications.
- To enhance the compatibility between cork particles and the ASA matrix through surface modification.
- To evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties of the developed cork-ASA composites.
Main Methods:
- Characterization and surface polymerization of cork particles with poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA).
- Preparation of FDM filaments using solvent casting and extrusion with unmodified (ASA + C) and PBA-modified cork (ASA + Cm).
- Evaluation of composite properties through mechanical testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of fracture surfaces.
- Analysis of thermal properties to assess insulating capabilities.
Main Results:
- PBA surface modification significantly improved the compatibility between cork particles and the ASA matrix.
- The ASA + Cm composites exhibited enhanced mechanical properties compared to ASA + C.
- SEM analysis confirmed improved interfacial adhesion in PBA-modified composites.
- The developed composites demonstrated improved thermal insulating properties.
Conclusions:
- Valorization of cork byproduct into FDM-compatible composite materials is feasible.
- Surface modification of cork with PBA is an effective strategy to enhance material compatibility and performance.
- The developed cork-ASA composites offer potential for applications requiring good mechanical and thermal insulation properties.
