Pinecone-Derived Biocarbon-Polylactic Acid Composites for Sustainable 3D Printing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Sustainable Manufacturing
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable manufacturing necessitates eco-friendly material alternatives.
• Biomass-sourced carbon particles offer a renewable resource for composite development.
• Biodegradable polymers like polylactic acid (PLA) are key to reducing plastic waste.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate pinecone-derived biocarbon (PCAC)-infused PLA composites.
• To investigate the impact of PCAC loading on composite properties for additive manufacturing.
• To assess the mechanical performance and biodegradability of these novel biocomposites.

Main Methods:

• Pinecone-derived biocarbon (PCAC) was synthesized and incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA) at varying wt % (0.025–0.100).
• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) was used for additive manufacturing of the composites.
• Morphological, optical, mechanical (tensile strength), and enzymatic biodegradability analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Homogeneous dispersion of PCAC within the PLA matrix was confirmed.
• Tensile strength increased by up to 60% at an optimal PCAC loading of 0.075 wt %.
• The PLA-PCAC composites demonstrated suitability for FDM-based 3D printing and exhibited enzymatic biodegradability.

Conclusions:

• Pinecone-derived biocarbon effectively enhances the mechanical properties of PLA.
• PLA-PCAC biocomposites represent a sustainable and viable alternative to conventional 3D printing materials.
• This research advances eco-friendly additive manufacturing through biomass valorization.