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Starch/Wood Powder/Glycerol/Lemongrass Essential Oil Composite as Hydro‐Degradable Materials for 3D Printing
Summary
Researchers developed a biocomposite material from starch, wood powder, glycerol, and lemongrass essential oil for use in 3D printing as an alternative to conventional thermoplastics that release volatile organic compounds and contribute to microplastic pollution. The hydro-degradable composite demonstrated printability and biodegradation in aqueous environments, offering a sustainable feedstock for additive manufacturing.
Abstract The dependency of 3D printing on thermoplastics releases volatile organic compounds and contributes to global microplastic pollution. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of hydro‐degradable starch‐based composite as a 3D printing material by considering its printability, hydro‐degradability, and strength. Starch is hydro degradable, however, it exhibits low strength thus attempts are made to improve the strength of the composite by starch coating and using lemongrass essential oil (LEO) as an additive. The result shows that 0.2 wt% of LEO increased the strength of starch/wood powder/glycerol/LEO (SWGL) composite by 55% and reduced the contact angle by ≈27° compared to the control. Starch coating increases the strength of the composite by filling up the voids in the structure and producing an integrated homogeneous surface. The SWGL composites exhibit good hydro degradability, especially under acidic conditions, due to the high‐water sorption rate and solubility. The printability of SWGL composites is good where the objects are printed as designed with the aid of a heating chamber. In conclusion, SWGL with 0.5wt% LEO is suitable for real‐life application as the 3D printing material for photo frames and souvenirs due to its good hydro degradability and moderate tensile strength.