Title: Preparation and characterisation of 3D printed bio-composites containing Carica papaya cellulose nanofibres

Authors: Mugdha Dongre; V.B. Suryawanshi; Yogeshwar R. Suryawanshi; Parameswaran Sujatha

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Matunga, Mumbai, 400019, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Matunga, Mumbai, 400019, India ' Technical and Applied Chemistry Department, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Matunga, Mumbai, 400019, India ' Technical and Applied Chemistry Department, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Matunga, Mumbai, 400019, India

Abstract: For the first time, cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) were extracted from Carica papaya petioles using chemo-mechanical treatment. The obtained nanofibres were characterised by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis. The morphological studies confirmed the nanofibre dimensions in the range of 10-60 nm. The CNFs were used at low levels (1%) as a reinforcement in polylactic acid (PLA) matrix to prepare the filaments for 3D printing using the extrusion process. The filaments were then used to print PLA/CNFs bio-composite specimen using fused filament fabrication (FFF) process. The mechanical and thermal properties of the PLA/CNFs composite parts were determined. The tensile strength (10.8%) and elastic modulus (21.9%) of PLA parts were significantly improved by addition of petiole CNFs.

Keywords: cellulose nanofibres; CNFs; polylactic acid; PLA; Carica papaya petioles; chemo-mechanical treatment; fused filament fabrication; FFF; mechanical properties.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2025.146441

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2025 Vol.16 No.2, pp.122 - 139

Received: 09 Apr 2023
Accepted: 02 Jul 2023
Published online: 30 May 2025 *

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