3D‐printed PLA/PMMA polymer composites: A consolidated feasible characteristic investigation for dental applications

Abstract

This research article focused on the blending of poly(lactic acid)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PLA/PMMA) polymer materials to overcome PLA's inherent weaknesses, such as low glass transition temperature, brittleness, and lack of melt strength. Consolidated feasible characteristic investigations, such as mechanical, thermal, and aging behavior, were carried out for PLA/PMMA blended polymer materials. Initially, the miscibility of PLA/PMMA blend filaments was prepared at various blend ratios (91/9, 82/18, and 73/27) and samples were printed by fused deposition modeling (FDM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis have been utilized to evaluate the glass transition temperature (Tg) and intermolecular interaction, respectively, on blended polymer materials. Experimental tensile, compression, and flexural strength testing were performed on neat polymers and blended polymer composites. Compared to neat PLA materials, blended composites had 13.24% and 19.07% higher flexural and compression strengths. Besides, the interfacial interaction of neat and blended polymers has been done using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Furthermore, Tg, storage modulus, and aging behavior of blended polymer materials have significantly improved over neat PLA materials. Altogether, the development of PMMA/PLA blends as sustainable biomaterials for dental applications aligns with environmental concerns and the need for biocompatible materials in dentistry. Blending of PLA and PMMA helps mitigate the inherent constraints of PLA. Blended composites exhibited greater compressive and flexural strengths. Better glass transition temperature and intermolecular interaction. Excellent thermal stability and water aging imply viable dental biomaterials.