Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “PLA”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Influence of build direction on the fracture mechanism of 3D printed octet lattices

Here, we investigate the effects of 3D printing build directions on the fracture properties of octet lattice metamaterials made of polylactic acid (PLA) and how these effects vary with the relative density of the lattices. Single-edge notch bend samples are 3D printed in two orthogonal build directions at various relative densities. Our results show that the work of fracture for octet lattices with build directions parallel to the crack plane is significantly higher than those with build directions perpendicular to the crack plane. We also observed that the ratio of specific work of fracture between the two build directions remains nearly constant across different relative densities. In contrast, the ratio of peak load between the two build directions decreases as relative density increases. Furthermore, the build direction dictates the fracture mechanism. While the perpendicular build direction predominantly results in a brittle (mode I) fracture, the parallel build direction leads to a complex, delamination-dominated (mode II type) fracture. This phenomenon is largely governed by the weak interfaces formed between the printed layers and their interaction with the lattice geometry. These results reveal that the build direction governs the fracture mechanism and work of fracture of these lattice metamaterials and is therefore an important design consideration.

3D printed PLA↗
DOE OSTI2022

Impact of biomass ash content on biocomposite properties

Owing to its low cost and sustainable nature, lignocellulosic biomass has been utilized for reinforcing polymers, but it is crucial to understand the impact of high-ash concentrations in biomass on composite strength and processing. Biomass is not only desirable for biofuel production but could also have a strong market, if high-ash biomass is acceptable, for biocomposites. In this work, natural fibers (switchgrass and corn stover) were used to reinforce polylactic acid (PLA) to produce biocomposites. Natural fibers were pretreated to obtain fibers that contain different percentages of ash. The mechanical properties (such as Young's modulus, tensile strength, failure strain, storage modulus) of corn stover/PLA composites remained largely unaffected by the ash concentration of the biomass fibers, despite the large range of ash contents (2.2–11.9 wt%). Furthermore, the tensile strengths of switchgrass/PLA composites were slightly negatively affected by the ash concentration of the switchgrass fibers (0.7–2.1 wt%). Both the switchgrass/PLA and the corn stover/PLA composites exhibited a high-enough tensile strength (49–57 MPa) and suitable complex viscosity (2.0–7.0 kPa·s at the frequency of 3.2 rad/s). They are expected to be 3D-printable through an extrusion-based additive manufacturing process.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Effects of PLA/PHB Blend Ratio and Wood Flour Loading on the Melt Rheology and Thermomechanical Properties of Biobased Polymer Composites

The development of sustainable, biobased polymer composites is crucial for reducing supply chain dependence on fossil fuels. A major challenge lies in understanding and predicting the processability of these sustainable material alternatives, which directly impacts large-scale manufacturing. Here, this study systematically investigates the effect of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) blend ratios and wood flour (WF) loadings on the thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of the composites. Composites were prepared via melt compounding and characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), oscillatory shear melt rheology, tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that increasing the PHB content lowered the glass transition temperature, while higher PHB and WF loadings decreased thermal stability. Complex viscosity decreased with increasing PHB in 0 and 10% WF, whereas it increased in 20% and 30% WF for PHB-rich blends (80/20 and 70/30 PLA/PHB) due to stronger filler interactions with flexible PHB chains. At 30% WF, PHB-containing composites also showed elastic dominance with G′ higher than G″. This behavior was confirmed by van Gurp–Palmen plots, where the phase angle decreased with increasing PHB and WF loadings. WF addition also shifted Cole–Cole plots away from semicircular terminal relaxation, while time–temperature superposition validity was maintained, confirming that polymer chain dynamics continue to dominate melt behavior. Young’s modulus increased with WF loading, while tensile strength and toughness decreased due to weaker interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the filler. Interestingly, 10% WF systems containing PHB exhibited the highest toughness among all of the filled systems, indicating synergistic reinforcement from WF fillers and PHB-induced ductility. Overall, melt rheology effectively captured the internal structure and stiffness of the composites as the formulation changed, reinforcing the concept that the PLA/PHB ratio and WF content can be tuned to adjust melt elasticity and balance mechanical property trade-offs for targeted applications.

melt rheology↗
DOE OSTI2025

Self-assembly of wood-based shape memory composites triggered by solar-thermal energy

Transporting and assembling large, complex structures poses significant challenges due to their size, geometry, and cost. Additionally, the installation sites are often inaccessible or hazardous for humans, necessitating self-assembling capabilities in these structures. To mitigate these challenges, we propose using 3D printing materials with shape memory effect (SME) for both transport and construction. This approach involves developing 3D modular components into flat sheets for easier transportation, and then self-assembling into 3D structures on-site using solar energy. To gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing material memory performance, we have chosen a composite PLA/WF, which is polylactic acid (PLA) with 20 wt% wood flour (WF) for this purpose, leveraging its high tensile modulus at 0.966 GPa, low cost, and sustainability. Printed shapes with this material can maintain a recovery ratio over 90% after 3 cycles. While traditional composites fillers (e.g. glass or carbon fiber) are added to enhance mechanical and thermal properties, the addition of bio-based fillers like WF accomplish similar goals without compromising sustainability. We conducted multiple experiments to demonstrate how environmental conditions (i.e. temperature) maximize the material’s SME. Although still at an early stage, this study provides initial insights into bridging the gap between the small-scale nature of shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their potential for large-scale additive manufacturing, addressing a critical need for efficient and sustainable construction. In the long term, we hope our study contributes to the design vision of utilizing SMPs for transportation, assembly, and deployment of complex structures, providing a new pathway for sustainable construction and transportation of large-scale structures to hard-to-access locations such as disaster-affected areas and remote deserts, etc.

4D printing↗
DOE OSTI2024

Epoxy Coating of Biofiber: An Effective Modifier of Biofiber Physical and Flow Properties for Improved Tensile Behavior of Biofiber-Reinforced Biocomposite

Biocomposites combine renewable, plant-based fibers with degradable polymers and are an attractive option for sustainable, lightweight, and cost-effective materials with a low carbon footprint, especially for large-scale additive manufacturing. One of the major challenges in the widespread adoption of biocomposites is that their mechanical performance is significantly inferior to that of synthetic composites. Surface treatment is a common and effective technique to improve the mechanical properties of the biofibers used in biocomposites. This study aims to investigate the physical and flow properties of surface-treated biofibers, as well as the tensile properties of their PLA-based biocomposite, to gain insights into how surface treatment changes the fiber‘s characteristics and biocomposite‘s mechanical properties. Surface treatment was created using a two-component epoxy system by reacting poly(bisphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin) glycidyl end-capped (PBG) and dicyandiamide (DICY). The treatment was tested on two different biofibers (loblolly pine and corn stover fibers) with three different PBG/DICY molar ratios (0.25, 0.5, and 2). Results showed that surface-treated fibers improved the tensile strength and Young‘s modulus of the biocomposites. Loblolly pine biocomposites from fibers treated with a PBG/DICY ratio of 0.25 exhibited the best tensile properties. The surface treatment resulted in a more loosely dispersed fiber bulk structure, as evidenced by less fiber agglomeration into smaller particle sizes, higher fiber sphericity, and lower loose bulk density. This can enhance stress distribution and the overall mechanical performance of the biocomposites. Additionally, surface-treated fibers exhibited better dynamic flow properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Microporous structure in silicone polymers with polylactic acid and polyethylene glycol microspheres: Synthesis and characterization

Porosity in polymer parts could improve mechanical properties while reducing weight and density. Individual pores must be small enough that bulk mechanical properties are retained but significant enough to reduce the density of the material. Filler materials can be incorporated into polymer matrices and removed to create voids. Here, this paper focuses on creating spherical pores in silicone matrices by inserting and removing core materials or fillers during post-cure. A method was developed to incorporate pore formers into an uncured polymer resin and remove the pore former materials from the matrix. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polylactic acid (PLA) microspheres were created and incorporated into silicone matrices as pore formers. Microspheres with controllable size distributions were formed via an emulsion formation. Microspheres are removed from the matrix by solvent extraction and calcination. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and optical imaging characterize and determine the successful creation of micropores in the polymer matrices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

A custom 3D printed paddlewheel improves growth in flat panel photobioreactor

One of the main challenges with using flat panel photobioreactors for algal growth is uneven mixing and settling of cells in corners, especially when bubbling is the only method used for mixing. Here, in order to improve mixing in our flat panel reactor, we designed a custom paddlewheel. Paddlewheels are frequently used in outdoor algae raceway ponds to improve mixing and we are taking advantage of the same principle for mixing in the reactor. The paddlewheel is easily integrated into our PSI FMT150 1‐L flat panel photobioreactor and is printed on a 3D printer using high temperature poly lactic acid (HT‐PLA). With the inclusion of an annealing step, the paddlewheel is autoclavable. Addition of the paddlewheel in the reactor minimized cell settling and improved algal growth, as evidenced by a nearly 40% increase in oxygen production rates. Nutrient dispersion and utilization in the culture was also improved as evidenced by a corresponding 38% decrease in CO 2 concentration. The paddlewheel device presented here is a cost‐effective method for improving algal growth in a flat panel photobioreactor.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2019

A novel targeted plugging and fracture‐adaptable gel used as a diverting agent in fracturing

Abstract Diverting agents that could plug a targeted location and fill different shapes of fractures have attracted an increasing attention in the field of fracturing. In this study, a series of novel diverting agents were prepared by mixing aldehyde sodium alginate (ASA) and amino gelatin (AG) through a Schiff base reaction to form a primary network, polylactic acid (PLA) fibers were added to produce a 3D network, and Ca 2+ was mixed in as an ionic cross‐linking agent to strengthen the cross‐linking points. It was found that gelation time, swelling behavior, and mechanical performance could be controlled by varying the content of aldehyde groups and amino groups. Gelation time could be controlled in 1‐10 minutes. Plugging behavior and degradation tests demonstrated that the hydrogel could suit fractures with various shapes and plug effectively under high temperatures and pressures, and it could eventually become acidic fluid to help clean the wellbore. This novel ASA/AG/PLA hydrogel constitutes a promising environmentally friendly diverting agent in the application of diversion fracturing.

Zhang, Yuyuan↗
DOE OSTI2018

Disintegration in Compost Conditions and Water Uptake of Green Composites from Poly(Lactic Acid) and Hazelnut Shell Flour

Green composites of poly(lactic acid)-PLA and hazelnut shell flour (HSF) with and without epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) as plasticizer/compatibilizer were subjected to different aging conditions such as water uptake by immersion and disintegration in compost soil. The effect of the hydrolytic degradation was analyzed by measuring the weight gain as a function of the immersion time in water and calculating the corresponding diffusion coefficients. As expected, the water diffusion coefficient increases with HSF content while no remarkable change is obtained for plasticized compositions with ELO. Differential scanning calorimetry reveals a noticeable increase in crystallinity after the degradation process by water immersion. Degradation in controlled compost soil was followed thorough measurements of weight changes. In general, the weight change for a particular degradation time is lower as the HSF content increases. In addition, presence of ELO as plasticizer/compatibilizer delays the degradation process in compost soil. Scanning electron microscopy highlighted a noticeable deterioration of aged samples after 2 weeks with multiple crack formation and high surface abrasion due to microbial activity after 4 weeks.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Poly(lactic acid)/Cellulose Composites Obtained from Modified Cotton Fibers by Successive Acid Hydrolysis

This work is focused on the hydrolysis of cotton fibers from waste textiles to obtain micro and nanofibers to be used as reinforcements in polymer composites. To promote their compatibility with polymeric matrix, hydrolyzed cotton fibers were surface modified with various silane compounds. Thus, these fibers were mixed with commercial poly(lactic acid) (PLA) at 5% w/w loading by melt compounding. Acid treatments caused a decrease of the crystallinity index whereas the thermal stability was significantly improved, especially for cellulose fibers hydrolyzed in two steps. Morphological analysis revealed a reduction of the fibers diameter and a decrease of their length as a consequence of the hydrolysis. NMR analysis confirmed the silanization of the fibers by reaction with the silane agent. Tensile tests revealed that silanization treatments were able to increase the composite Young’s modulus and the stress at break with respect to the neat matrix, indicating that silanization improved the polymer/fiber compatibility interfacial adhesion. The overall results demonstrated that applying suitable surface modification strategies, waste cotton textiles can be effectively recycled as fillers in polymer based composites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Conductivity of PEO/PLA Doped Liquid Crystal Ionomer Solid Polymer Electrolyte in Mesomorphic Range

A novel polyethylene oxide (PEO)/polylactic acid (PLA) solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) doped with Liquid crystal ionomer (LCI) was prepared by automatic scraping membrane technology and the liquid crystal property of LCI was proposed as an effective strategy to improve the conductivity. The highest conductivity of the SPE with 0.5 wt% LCI achieve a value of 2.19 × 10{sup −4} S/cm at 17 °C which is approximately four orders of magnitude higher than that of the original PEO solid polymer electrolyte, conductivity at room temperature is 10{sup −7}–10{sup −8} S/cm. This is because the crystallinity is reduced by 25.3% compared to the pure PEO host. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing microscope (POM) characterize the structure and properties of LCI. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) shows that the conductivity of the polymer electrolyte with 0.5 wt% LCI increased abruptly at 35 °C as the temperature is higher than T{sub g} of LCI, reaching 6.37 × 10{sup −4} S/cm which is 191% higher than that at 17 °C. There ionic conductivity has been improved extremely by continuous channel for efficient ion transportation, especially at the microtherm. And this change is greater at the elevated temperature regions, in line with the VTF equation. In summary, LCI’s liquid crystal performance can be used as an effective strategy to improve the low temperature conductivity of SPE.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Abiotic Hydrolysis and Compostability of Blends Based on Cassava Starch and Biodegradable Polymers

When associated with polymer blends, starch may improve the biodegradability and compostability of other materials. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the abiotic hydrolysis and the composting process of films obtained from polymer blends between thermoplastic starch (TPS) and three other biodegradable polymers: poly[(butylene adipate)- co -(terephthalate)] (PBAT), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PVA/TPS stood out as the most homogeneous blend and the one that showed the highest weight loss, with 46.21% of its initial weight remaining after abiotic hydrolysis tests. On the other hand, PBAT/TPS and PLA/TPS underwent more drastic and rapid degradation during composting in contrast to PVA/TPS. They became very fragmented after 21 days of composting, while the PVA/TPS was visually modified but remained unbroken until day 70. No blend sample exerted negative effects on the quality of the compost.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

N-Silylated Benzothiazolium Dye as a Coupling Agent for Polylactic Acid/Date Palm Fiber Bio-composites

This work proposes a benzothiazole derivative bearing a silane moiety as a new coupling agent for polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced by date palm fibers (DPFs). The bio-composites are prepared by solution blending followed by melt compounding. From the samples produced, a complete characterization is performed including morphological, mechanical and thermal properties as a function of fiber content. The results show that the proposed fiber treatment is an easy and effective method to improve the interfacial properties and fiber dispersion leading to better material performance. For example, the addition of only 1 wt% of the dye–IPTMS to the bleached DPF not only improved the thermal stability of the biocomposites, but also led to a significant increase of the Young’s modulus at 7 wt% and higher torsion modulus up to 5 wt% (optimum value).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Tissue-specific differences in metabolites and transcripts contribute to the heterogeneity of ricinoleic acid accumulation in Ricinus communis L. (castor) seeds

Castor ( Ricinus communis L.) seeds are valued for their production of oils which can comprise up to 90% hydroxy-fatty acids (ricinoleic acid). Castor oil contains mono-, di- and tri- ricinoleic acid containing triacylglycerols (TAGs). Although the enzymatic synthesis of ricinoleic acid is well described, the differential compartmentalization of these TAG molecular species has remained undefined. To examine the distribution of hydroxy fatty acid accumulation within the endosperm and embryo tissues of castor seeds. Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) was used to map the distribution of triacylglycerols in tissue sections of castor seeds. In addition, the endosperm and embryo (cotyledons and embryonic axis) tissues were dissected and extracted for quantitative lipidomics analysis and Illumina-based RNA deep sequencing. Results: This study revealed an unexpected heterogeneous tissue distribution of mono-, di- and tri- hydroxy-triacylglycerols in the embryo and endosperm tissues of castor seeds. Pathway analysis based on transcript abundance suggested that distinct embryo- and endosperm-specific mechanisms may exist for the shuttling of ricinoleic acid away from phosphatidylcholine (PC) and into hydroxy TAG production. The embryo-biased mechanism appears to favor removal of ricinoleic acid from PC through phophatidylcholine: diacylglycerol acylytransferase (PDAT) while the endosperm pathway appears to remove ricinoleic acid from the PC pool by preferences of phospholipase A (PLA 2 α) and/or phosphatidylcholine: diacylglycerol cholinepshphotransferase PDCT. In conclusion, collectively, a combination of lipidomics and transcriptomics analyses revealed previously undefined spatial aspects of hydroxy fatty acid metabolism in castor seeds. These studies underscore a need for tissue-specific studies as a means to better understand the regulation of triacylglycerol accumulation in oilseeds.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Study of the Production of a Metallic Coating on Natural Fiber Composite Through the Cold Spray Technique

The deposition of a metallic coating on hemp-PLA (polylactic acid) laminate through the cold spray technique was studied in this paper. A number of different combinations of the deposition parameters were tested to investigate the feasibility of the process. The feasibility of the process was proved when processing conditions are properly set. The bonding mechanism between the substrate and the first layer of particles was studied through scanning electron microscope observations, and it was found that the polymeric matrix experiences a huge plastic deformation to accommodate the impinging particles; conversely a different mechanism was observed when metallic powders impact against a previously deposited metallic layer. The difference between the bonding mechanism and the growth of the coating was also highlighted. Depending on the spraying parameters, four different processing conditions were highlighted and discussed, and as a result the processing window was defined. The mechanical properties of the composite panel before and after the deposition were also investigated. The experiments showed that when properly carried out, the deposition process does not affect the strength of the panel; moreover, no improvements were observed because the contribution of the coating is negligible with respect to one of the reinforcement fibers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Manufacturing of a Metal Matrix Composite Coating on a Polymer Matrix Composite Through Cold Gas Dynamic Spray Technique

In this work, the manufacturing through cold gas dynamic spray (cold spray or CS) of metallic composite coatings of Al-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} on organic composite substrates with thermoplastic PLA matrix and hemp fibers was studied. Alumina powders, with a mean diameter of 50 μm, were used blended with aluminum powders in three different weight concentration percentages (0, 15, 20, and 45%) as feedstock material in order to highlight and discuss the variations of the coating surface properties depending on the alumina percentage. The coatings were produced by using a low-pressure cold spray equipment. A detailed experimental campaign, including microstructural observations and confocal microscopy, was carried out to study the structure of the coatings. Moreover, the tribological behavior of the coatings was studied through both scratch test and pin-on-disk test. The experiments showed that a small addition of alumina improves the compactness of the coating and its resistance to scratch and wear behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Polymers for Traveling Wave Ion Mobility Spectrometry Calibration

One of the main issues when using traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) for the determination of collisional cross-section (CCS) concerns the need for a robust calibration procedure built from referent ions of known CCS. Here, we implement synthetic polymer ions as CCS calibrants in positive ion mode. Based on their intrinsic polydispersities, polymers offer in a single sample the opportunity to generate, upon electrospray ionization, numerous ions covering a broad mass range and a large CCS window for different charge states at a time. In addition, the key advantage of polymer ions as CCS calibrants lies in the robustness of their gas-phase structure with respect to the instrumental conditions, making them less prone to collisional-induced unfolding (CIU) than protein ions. In this paper, we present a CCS calibration procedure using sodium cationized polylactide and polyethylene glycol, PLA and PEG, as calibrants with reference CCS determined on a home-made drift tube. Our calibration procedure is further validated by testing the polymer calibration to determine CCS of numerous different ions for which CCS are reported in the literature. .

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Functionalizing magnet additive manufacturing with in-situ magnetic field source

Additive manufacturing via 3-D printing technologies have become a frontier in materials research, including its application in the development and recycling of permanent magnets. This work addresses the opportunity to integrate magnetic field sources into 3-D printing process in order to enable printing, alignment of anisotropic permanent magnets or magnetizing of magnetic filler materials, without requiring further processing. Specifically, a nonaxisymmetric electromagnet-type field source architecture was designed, modelled, constructed, installed to a fused filament commercial 3-D printer, and tested. The testing was performed by applying magnetic field while printing composite anisotropic Nd-Fe-B + Sm-Fe-N powders bonded in Nylon12 (65 vol.%) and recycled Sm-Co powder bonded in PLA (15 vol.%). Magnetic characterization indicated that the degree-of-alignment of the magnet powders increased both with alignment field strength (controlled by the electric current applied to the magnetizing system) and the printing temperature. Both coercivity and remanence were found to be strongly dependent on the degree-of-alignment, except for printing performed below but near the Curie temperature of Nd-Fe-B (310 ° C). At applied field of 0.15 kOe, Sm-Co and hybrid Nd-Fe-B/Sm-Fe-N printed samples showed degrees-of-alignment of 83 % and 65 %, respectively. The variations in coercivity were consistent with previous observations in bonded magnet materials. This work verifies that integration of magnetic field sources into 3-D printing processes will result in magnetic alignment of particles while ensuring that other advantages of 3-D printing are retained.

3-D printing↗