Mechanical Properties of Fully Recyclable 3D-Printable Materials Used for Application in Patient-Specific Devices in...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Healthcare plastics pose environmental challenges due to production growth and recycling limitations.
• 3D printing offers localized, on-demand manufacturing solutions for the medical sector.
• Reusable medical devices are needed to improve sustainability in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the mechanical properties and recyclability of 3D-printed ABS composites with Bi2O3 fillers.
• To assess the material's suitability for reusable radiotherapy support devices after recycling and irradiation.
• To determine the optimal Bi2O3 concentration for enhanced material performance.

Main Methods:

• Filaments of PLA, ABS, and ABS composites (5 wt% and 10 wt% Bi2O3) were extruded.
• Materials underwent up to ten recycling cycles (shredding and re-extrusion).
• Samples were irradiated to 70 Gy using a 6 MeV photon beam to simulate radiotherapy conditions.

Main Results:

• ABS showed better recyclability than PLA, but experienced a decline in tensile strength and Young's modulus after ten cycles.
• ABS with 5 wt% Bi2O3 demonstrated significantly improved recyclability and mechanical property retention.
• The ABS-5 wt% Bi2O3 composite maintained superior mechanical integrity after irradiation, with minimal degradation.

Conclusions:

• ABS-5 wt% Bi2O3 is a promising recyclable material for durable, patient-specific radiotherapy devices.
• This composite supports sustainability in medical manufacturing by enabling the creation of robust, reusable components.
• The findings highlight the potential of additive manufacturing and composite materials to address environmental challenges in healthcare.