Fabrication and Characterization of Almond Skin Powder Reinforced PLA Based Composite Filaments for Fused Filament Fabrication

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 02 | Page : 530-539
    By

    Ravi Kumar,

  • Kapil Chawla,

  • Jaspreet Singh,

  1. Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
  2. Associate Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
  3. Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India

Abstract

Researchers around the globe are increasingly utilizing recycling methods to address waste generated from polymers, spurred by the dire need to deal with environmental challenges promoting sustainable practices. Polymers are having highly-stable long-chain polymer structure which makes it difficult to degrade easily posing many environmental and health challenges, hence, recycling of the polymers is the sole method to mitigate harmful effects. However, there has been relatively little focus on producing fused filaments using secondary recycled Polylactic acid (2° PLA) reinforced with industrial waste of almond skin. The goal of this study is to fabricate fused filaments for fused filament fabrication (FFF) in additive manufacturing. The process involves controlling parameters such as torque (0.1 Nm, 0.2 Nm, 0.3 Nm), load (7.5 kg, 10 kg, 12.5 kg), temperature (175°C, 185°C, 195°C) of a twin-screw extruder using 2° PLA reinforced with almond skin. Taguchi’s orthogonal array has been applied to prepare composite filaments. Total 9-composite filaments have been prepared with a composition of 94% 2° PLA and 6% almond skin by %wt. The highest peak strength  (43.85 MPa) of the 2° PLA + almond skin composite filament was achieved at 0.1 Nm torque, 12.5 kg load and 195°C extrusion temperature. The morphological and thermal characteristics of the fused filaments were examined through scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Further, porosity analysis indicates that lower porosity percentages in the filaments lead to improved mechanical properties.

Keywords: Polylactic acid, almond skin, twin screw extruder (TSE), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer and Composites (jopc)]

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How to cite this article:
Ravi Kumar, Kapil Chawla, Jaspreet Singh. Fabrication and Characterization of Almond Skin Powder Reinforced PLA Based Composite Filaments for Fused Filament Fabrication. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):530-539.
How to cite this URL:
Ravi Kumar, Kapil Chawla, Jaspreet Singh. Fabrication and Characterization of Almond Skin Powder Reinforced PLA Based Composite Filaments for Fused Filament Fabrication. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(02):530-539. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=208157


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Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Special Issue 02
Received 26/10/2024
Accepted 10/02/2025
Published 26/03/2025
Publication Time 151 Days
Total Visits: 57


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