3D printing is rapidly evolving and spreading to many areas of our everyday lives. There are many different 3D printing technologies and materials that can be used. The ever-increasing prices of raw materials, aspirations for sustainable development and environmental care, increase the need for the use of natural, renewable materials, which is why biocomposite materials are already being used also in 3D printing.
In this master's thesis, commercial biocomposite filaments based on PLA blended with natual fibres – wood and hemp were compared to pure PLA filament and non-commercial filaments with nanofibrillated cellulose, lignin and polymerized lignin blends. Specimens of filaments and printed objects were captured with scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy and were tested with exposure to oil, water, detergent, rubbing, light and temperature. Printing with non-commercial filaments is more challenging and the specimens were less durable that commercial ones, except tests with oil showed promising results (filament from PLA and NFC blend). The results showed that objects printed with PLA show good resistance to water, detergent and light, but show poorer resistance to mechanical forces and higher temperatures, since they can change their shape and color at 80 ° C. Specimens printed with woodfill filament were causing problems during printing. Objects printed with wood filament can be used in everyday life but should not be exposed to mechanical damage, long lasting sunlight and higher temperatures or the objects will darken and at higher temperatures even lose their strength and become soft. The filament with hemp fibers does not cause problems while printing and the objects have a dark, polished wood look, when they are printed. The objects show a good resistance to water, detergent and a little poorer resistance to oil. Physically the objects are solid and resistant to rubbing and light. They are not resistant to higher temperatures and therefore not useful near heat sources, as they tend to lose their strength and break down.
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