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Effect of Recycling and UV Ageing on the Properties of PLA-Based Materials Used in Additive Manufacturing
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Researchers tested whether PLA bioplastic reinforced with coffee-ground filler could withstand repeated print-degrade-recycle cycles under UV exposure, finding that the composite retained structural integrity and processability after 12 weeks while pure PLA became unprintable. The results support coffee-ground-filled PLA composites as a more durable, sustainable option for circular economy applications in additive manufacturing.
This article focuses on the possibility of using biodegradable polymer-composite materials in additive manufacturing via fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing. The main objective was to experimentally verify the technical feasibility of the repeated use of recycled PLA and PLA composites containing 10% natural coffee-ground (CG) filler in a print-degradation-recycling-print cycle. Special attention was paid to simulated ultraviolet radiation as a degradation factor affecting the materials' mechanical properties. Pure PLA and PLA_CG were compared at four levels of degradation time and after subsequent recycling. The results show that the inclusion of coffee-ground filler slightly reduces the initial strength but enhances the 3D-printed material's resistance to UV degradation and thus extends its functional service life. Unlike pure PLA, which loses its processability after 12 weeks, PLA_CG retains structural integrity and mechanical functionality. The research confirms the potential of recycled PLA composites with natural fillers for sustainable manufacturing and supports their use within a circular economy framework.
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Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose
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Researchers prepared polylactic acid composites with three different cellulose-based fillers and studied how they age under UV light exposure. The study found that the type of cellulose additive plays a crucial role in how well the material resists UV degradation, with some forms improving both mechanical properties and degradation timing. These findings support the potential of biodegradable polymer composites as alternatives to conventional plastics that generate persistent microplastic waste.
Thermal Degradation Analysis of Sustainable Recycled Saudi Coffee/PLA Bio-nanocomposites
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Researchers blended spent Saudi coffee grounds with polylactic acid bioplastic at varying ratios and analyzed thermal degradation, finding that coffee biomass acts as a biocatalyst accelerator that reduces PLA's thermal stability — potentially speeding end-of-life breakdown while generating a lignocellulosic char residue.
The study of degradation and mechanical properties of poly(lactic) acid (PLA) based 3D printed filament
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This study examined how soil burial and post-heat treatment affect the mechanical properties of 3D-printed PLA, finding that degradation occurred even in abiotic (sterile) soil conditions and that heat-induced crystallization caused a significant drop in strain from 7.33% to 4.28% within the first two weeks, highlighting how processing conditions substantially alter biodegradable plastic performance.
Valorization of Spent Coffee Grounds and Brewer’s Spent Grain Waste Toward Toughening of a Biodegradable PBAT/PHBH Blend
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Researchers reinforced biodegradable PBAT/PHBH polymer blends with spent coffee grounds, brewer's spent grain, and cellulose powder, finding that low brewer's grain loading boosted impact strength by ~92% through crack deflection mechanisms, while higher loadings and poor interfacial compatibility between hydrophilic fillers and the hydrophobic polyester matrix limited tensile performance.
Explication of mechanism governing atmospheric degradation of 3D-printed poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with different in-fill pattern and varying in-fill density
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Researchers studied the atmospheric degradation of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) samples exposed to natural weather conditions in India, examining different in-fill patterns and densities. The study found that while PLA performance deteriorated over time due to UV exposure, humidity, and other environmental factors, the combination of in-fill pattern and volume played an important role in the rate of degradation.
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