On the Buckling Behavior of DLP 3D Printed PLA with AgNO<sub>3</sub> Addition

The antibacterial effects of AgNO 3 have been observed and utilized in various applications. However, only a few studies have examined its effects on the mechanical properties of a matrix when combined. In this study, AgNO 3 was used as an additive and blended with PLA resin for 3D printing to study its impact on buckling behavior, which is critical for designing slender column structures. To prepare the mixture, several processes were undertaken: (1) dissolving AgNO 3 in distilled water; (2) adding the dissolved AgNO 3 into the PLA resin; (3) stirring; (4) degassing; and (5) re-stirring. Based on the experimental results, the addition of AgNO 3 led to a decrease in the buckling strength of PLA. For pure PLA specimens, the critical buckling stresses are 47.92, 44.91, 29.72, and 17.11 MPa for lengths of 10, 50, 100, and 150 mm, respectively. For the PLA + 2% AgNO 3 specimens, the values are 23.55, 18.89, 15.1, and 10.48 MPa for the same lengths. Moreover, when compared to the theory using the Johnson and Euler buckling formulas, the obtained experimental results show good agreement.