3D printable fully biomass-based composite using poly(furfuryl alcohol) as binder and cellulose as a filler

Nowadays, composite materials are widely used in different sectors owing to their improved mechanical and functional properties compared to bulk materials and efficient manufacturing processes. Nevertheless, the majority of these materials are still petroleum-based, which is incompatible with the recent environmental awareness. As a result, in the current study, a fully biomass-based composite material was produced employing poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA) as a bio-based matrix coupled with cellulose powder as fillers and processing aid agent. The addition of cellulose powder increased the viscosity of the uncured composite paste and conferred it a shear-thinning thixotropic making it suitable for 3D printing using the liquid deposition modeling technique (LDM). After curing, the combination of these raw materials yields a renewable and cost-effective composite for additive manufacturing by the LDM technique with high interlayer and interfilament adhesion, good mechanical performances, and adequate shape fidelity.