Experimental and numerical analysis of 3D-printed pure PLA and ceramic-reinforced PLA multilayered composites

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a remarkable manufacturing method that helps us to produce such complex structures without the need for extra components or parts as required by most other manufacturing processes. This research article has focused on 3D-printed multi-layered polymer composite materials for various kinds of biomedical applications. In this research investigation, polylactic acid (PLA) is considered an alternative to the existing material in biomedical applications. In addition, for further improvement of the mechanical performance of PLA composite structures, ceramic-reinforced PLA (CRPLA) filament materials have been utilized to be multilayered with pure PLA materials. Ceramic particles have proved to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of polymer composites. The tensile, compression, and flexural strength of 3D-printed pure PLA, ceramic composite, and multilayered laminates were evaluated experimentally, which was validated by FE simulation analysis. The results concluded that the tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths of multilayered 3D-printed composite laminates were increased by 28.9%, 5.9%, and 16.3%, respectively, compared with pure PLA-printed laminates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been utilized to investigate the fractography analysis of multilayered composite laminates. Moreover, thermal characterization has been done by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis.