Can 3D printing PLA make the textile industry more sustainable?

Recently, a study was conducted jointly by the University of Boras in Sweden and the French universities GEMTEX, Lille North University and the China Textile and Apparel Engineering Institute. A survey on direct 3D printing of PLA materials on fabrics was published.

According to 3D Tiger, the study was funded by the European Commission's Erasmus Mundus program, encouraging cooperation to achieve a universal goal. Study of the adhesion properties of polymers and nanocomposites for direct 3D printing on textiles: the impact of FDM printing process parameters. The results of this study were published in SMDTex in January 2017.

Water is vital in traditional textile manufacturing. According to WWF global data, approximately 20,000 liters of water is required for every 1 kg of cotton produced. In the post-treatment, water will also be used to print the fabric pattern. As described in the report, using 3D printing instead of typical screen or inkjet printing technology, in addition to "energy and chemicals" and generally "improving the ecological footprint and productivity of fabric printing", it can also "avoid unnecessary water resources." waste".

PLA materials have the advantages of durability, sustainability, and environmental protection . At the same time, because they are synthetic materials, they are light in weight, waterproof, and easy to color. In addition, it is more sustainable than other synthetic fibers, which is why SMDTex researchers chose PLA as their primary focus.

The study examined four different polymer combinations on synthetic fibers and analyzed the extent to which the materials adhered to each other. The combination is nylon on nylon 66 fabric instead of PLA, PLA on nylon PA66, PLA on PLA fabric, and PLA on PLA fabric containing carbon black. The study further emphasized the cost of research using commercially available materials and a dual-head WANIO copier 3D printer. It has been found experimentally that the adhesion of PLA to the fabric is primarily dependent on the balance between the platform temperature of the heated fabric and the temperature at which the PLA is extruded.

In order to achieve bonding, when they harden and the molecular chains within the polymer are immobile, the two polymers must be in a "flow" state of the material rather than a "glassy" point. The conclusions indicate that the PLA base yarn exhibits maximum adhesion to PLA fabrics. Since PLA can be reinforced with materials in all manners (ie, carbon nanotubes in this experiment), it gives a range of methods for making smart materials with enhanced functionality, and the possible uses suggested in this paper. Yes: Smart bandages, virtual reality gloves, wearable devices with sensors and thermal attributes, safety equipment for the defense industry, unique sportswear for managing body temperature, medical equipment, automotive, aerospace and aerospace accessories.