Recently, due to environmental concerns, the interest for biobased materials and for associated sustainable processes is steadily increasing. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is described as one of the most innovative process and the development of biobased product adapted to this process is then currently promoted. Poly-furfuryl alcohol (PFA) resin is derived from furfural a bio-based chemical which can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass, its origin is annually renewable and non-edible. PFA is commercially available in large quantities and show good properties, especially, it is thermally resistant as well as chemically resistant against corrosion and solvents. However, the PFA cured resin is also showing poor mechanical properties. Its combination with natural reinforcement is then an interesting possibility. Cellulose microfibrils (MFC) may be derived by a variety of wood and annual plants biomass; MFC in the form of films and sheets show high mechanical properties which make it interesting as reinforcement for a PFA-based composite. However due to its tendency to form agglomerate, its dispersion in a PFA matrix is then challenging. In this work, the 3D printing of a commercial PFA with MFC is reported. The preparation of the composite was following a 3 steps process: dispersion of the MFC in the PFA matrix, liquid deposition modeling of the composite and the final curing. Several characterizations were performed to investigate the curing and the properties of the obtained material: Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the curing of the system. The thermomechanical properties were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. And a particular attention was given on the rheological properties.

3D printing of a bio-based liquid composite: Polyfurfuryl alcohol & cellulose microfibrils

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.