3D printing of nanocellulose structures infused Epofix resin with improved mechanical properties

Abstract

To reduce the dependency on non-renewable resources, high concentration nanocellulose structures are 3D printed, followed by freeze-drying. The freeze-dried structures are impregnated with a commercially available Epofix resin via a widely used vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process to manufacture nanocellulose-epoxy composites. The porosity, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the 3D printed structures and composites are investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), three-point bending test, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The nanocellulose-epoxy composites showed a bending strength and modulus of 30.82 MPa and 2.67 GPa, respectively. The improved mechanical properties of the composites are due to porous free structures after infusion of an Epofix resin, as confirmed by SEM. The thermal stability of the composites increased compared to freeze-dried structures, as confirmed by TGA.