Fabrication of 3D Printed Polylactic Acid/Polycaprolactone Nanocomposites with Favorable Thermo-Responsive Cyclic Shape Memory Effects, and Crystallization and Mechanical Properties

Hao Liu; Chengdi Li; Simin Chen; Ping Chen; Jinbo Li; Huihua Jian; Guoyi Guo; Xiao Chen; Xiaofeng Zhu; Jun Wu

doi:10.3390/polym15061533

Polymers (Mar 2023)

Fabrication of 3D Printed Polylactic Acid/Polycaprolactone Nanocomposites with Favorable Thermo-Responsive Cyclic Shape Memory Effects, and Crystallization and Mechanical Properties

Hao Liu,
Chengdi Li,
Simin Chen,
Ping Chen,
Jinbo Li,
Huihua Jian,
Guoyi Guo,
Xiao Chen,
Xiaofeng Zhu,
Jun Wu

Affiliations

Hao Liu: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Chengdi Li: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Simin Chen: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Ping Chen: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Jinbo Li: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Huihua Jian: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Guoyi Guo: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Xiao Chen: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Xiaofeng Zhu: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China
Jun Wu: Xinyu Key Laboratory of Materials Technology and Application for Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinyu University, Xinyu 338004, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061533
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 6
p. 1533

Abstract

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In this work, 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites with favorable thermo-responsive cyclic shape memory effects (SMEs) and crystallization and mechanical properties were fabricated using a two-step method. First, an isocyanate-terminated PCL diol (PCL-NCO) was synthesized through the reaction between isocyanate groups of hexamethylene diisocyanate and active hydroxyl groups of PCL diol, and its physicochemical properties were characterized. A PLA/PCL blend with a PCL content of 50 wt% was fabricated via fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing, and the influence of the PCL-NCO on the SME of the PLA/PCL blend was studied. The results indicated that the PCL-NCO significantly improved the cyclic shape memory performance of 3D printed PLA/PCL blends and was proved to be an effective interface compatibilizer for the blend system. Subsequently, the structure and properties of 3D printed PLA/PCL nanocomposites were investigated in detail by adding cellulose nanocrystal-organic montmorillonite (CNC-OMMT) hybrid nanofillers with different contents. It was found that the hybrid nanofillers greatly enhanced crystallization and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites due to adequate dispersion. The modification of the PLA/PCL blend and the preparation of the 3D printed nanocomposite can not only prolong the service life of a shape memory polymer product, but also broaden its application scope in advanced fields.

Published in Polymers

ISSN: 2073-4360 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers/

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