3D-Printed PLA Molds for Natural Composites: Mechanical Properties of Green Wax-Based Composites

The first part of this paper is dedicated to obtaining 3D-printed molds using poly lactic acid (PLA) incorporating specific patterns, which have the potential to serve as the foundation for sound-absorbing panels for various industries and aviation. The molding production process was utilized to create all-natural environmentally friendly composites. These composites mainly comprise paper, beeswax, and fir resin, including automotive function as the matrices and binders. In addition, fillers, such as fir needles, rice flour, and Equisetum arvense (horsetail) powder, were added in varying amounts to achieve the desired properties. The mechanical properties of the resulting green composites, including impact and compressive strength, as well as maximum bending force value, were evaluated. The morphology and internal structure of the fractured samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and an optical microscopy. The highest impact strength was measured for the composites with beeswax, fir needles, recyclable paper, and beeswax fir resin and recyclable paper, 19.42 and 19.32 kJ/m², respectively, while the highest compressive strength was 4 MPa for the beeswax and horsetail-based green composite. Natural-material-based composites exhibited 60% higher mechanical performance compared to similar commercial products used in the automotive industry.