OPTIMIZATION OF THE FFF PROCESS PARAMETERS ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF nGr-PLA COMPOSITE USING TAGUCHI DOE

Polylactic acid (PLA) has numerous potential applications due to its ability to biodegrade and its generally harmless decomposition process. A composite material consisting of PLA and 4.5% by weight of nanographene is employed in a 3D printer. The composite is processed into wires through a screw-type extrusion machine. The specimens are created using 3D printing techniques, specifically employing wire generated through a method known as fused filament fabrication (FFF) in additive manufacturing. The process settings of the FFF machine are adjusted to create the specimens. In this study, the influence of key FFF process parameters (extrusion temperature, infill pattern, and infill density) on the compressive strength of nanographene (nGr)-reinforced PLA composite is systematically investigated using the Taguchi design of experiments (DOE). A robust L18 orthogonal array (OA) is employed to optimize the process conditions, minimizing variability and maximizing compressive performance. Experimental results reveal that the integration of nGr significantly enhances the compressive strength by improving interlayer adhesion and load-bearing capacity. The Taguchi optimization identified an optimal parameter combination of [Formula: see text]C extrusion temperature, Gyroid infill pattern, and 60% infill density, resulting in a maximum experimental compressive strength of approximately 88.879[Formula: see text]MPa. ANOVA revealed that extrusion temperature was the most influential parameter, contributing 74.74% to the variation in compressive strength. The signal-to-noise ratio analysis further confirmed extrusion temperature as the dominant process parameter, highlighting its critical role in optimizing the compressive performance of PLA/nGr composites. This research provides a valuable framework for advancing the mechanical performance of polymer nanocomposites in structural and biomedical applications.