Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing Applications
3D printability of green composites is currently experiencing a boost in importance and interest, envisaging a way to valorise agricultural waste, in order to obtain affordable fillers for the preparation of biodegradable polymer-based composites with reduced cost and environmental impact, without u...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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Series: | Polymers |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/2/325 |
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author | Roberto Scaffaro Maria Clara Citarrella Marco Morreale |
author_facet | Roberto Scaffaro Maria Clara Citarrella Marco Morreale |
author_sort | Roberto Scaffaro |
collection | DOAJ |
description | 3D printability of green composites is currently experiencing a boost in importance and interest, envisaging a way to valorise agricultural waste, in order to obtain affordable fillers for the preparation of biodegradable polymer-based composites with reduced cost and environmental impact, without undermining processability and mechanical performance. In this work, an innovative green composite was prepared by combining a starch-based biodegradable polymer (Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup>, MB) and a filler obtained from the lignocellulosic waste coming from <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> (i.e., tomato plant) harvesting. Different processing parameters and different filler amounts were investigated, and the obtained samples were subjected to rheological, morphological, and mechanical characterizations. Regarding the adopted filler amounts, processability was found to be good, with adequate dispersion of the filler in the matrix. Mechanical performance was satisfactory, and it was found that this is significantly affected by specific process parameters such as the raster angle. The mechanical properties were compared to those predictable from the Halpin–Tsai model, finding that the prepared systems exceed the expected values. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:24:10Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-36100bc183734c7f957f1db14a4b6f99 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2073-4360 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:24:10Z |
publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Polymers |
spelling | doaj.art-36100bc183734c7f957f1db14a4b6f992023-12-01T00:08:08ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-01-0115232510.3390/polym15020325Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing ApplicationsRoberto Scaffaro0Maria Clara Citarrella1Marco Morreale2Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, ItalyFaculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy3D printability of green composites is currently experiencing a boost in importance and interest, envisaging a way to valorise agricultural waste, in order to obtain affordable fillers for the preparation of biodegradable polymer-based composites with reduced cost and environmental impact, without undermining processability and mechanical performance. In this work, an innovative green composite was prepared by combining a starch-based biodegradable polymer (Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup>, MB) and a filler obtained from the lignocellulosic waste coming from <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> (i.e., tomato plant) harvesting. Different processing parameters and different filler amounts were investigated, and the obtained samples were subjected to rheological, morphological, and mechanical characterizations. Regarding the adopted filler amounts, processability was found to be good, with adequate dispersion of the filler in the matrix. Mechanical performance was satisfactory, and it was found that this is significantly affected by specific process parameters such as the raster angle. The mechanical properties were compared to those predictable from the Halpin–Tsai model, finding that the prepared systems exceed the expected values.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/2/325green composites3D printingFDMbiopolymerssolanum lycopersicum |
spellingShingle | Roberto Scaffaro Maria Clara Citarrella Marco Morreale Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing Applications Polymers green composites 3D printing FDM biopolymers solanum lycopersicum |
title | Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing Applications |
title_full | Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing Applications |
title_fullStr | Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing Applications |
title_full_unstemmed | Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing Applications |
title_short | Green Composites Based on Mater-Bi<sup>®</sup> and <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> Plant Waste for 3D Printing Applications |
title_sort | green composites based on mater bi sup r sup and i solanum lycopersicum i plant waste for 3d printing applications |
topic | green composites 3D printing FDM biopolymers solanum lycopersicum |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/2/325 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT robertoscaffaro greencompositesbasedonmaterbisupsupandisolanumlycopersicumiplantwastefor3dprintingapplications AT mariaclaracitarrella greencompositesbasedonmaterbisupsupandisolanumlycopersicumiplantwastefor3dprintingapplications AT marcomorreale greencompositesbasedonmaterbisupsupandisolanumlycopersicumiplantwastefor3dprintingapplications |