Abstract:
Textile materials have been combined with polymers using 3D printing technology, thus producing structures with
novel properties. The aim of this study was to use statistical methods to determine the effect of 3D printing machine
parameters on the mechanical properties of cotton fabrics combined with polylactic acid. Polylactic acid was printed on
a cotton fabric using an Athena Fused Deposition Modelling 3D printer. The effect of extrusion temperature, printing
speed, fill density and model height on adhesion force before and after washing was investigated. A study of the tensile
strength was also undertaken using a central composite rotatable design and regression analysis. The experimental data
were used to develop regression models to predict the properties of the cotton/ polylactic acid structures. The model
for adhesion force before washing yielded a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) value of 0.75 and an optimum adhesion
force of 50.06 N/cm. The model for adhesion force had an R 2 value of 0.84 and an optimum adhesion force of 42.91 N/cm
and showed that adhesion force reduced after washing. Adhesion forces before and after washing were both positively
correlated to extrusion temperature. However, they reduced with an increase in printing speed and model height.
A positive correlation exists between tensile strength and temperature, while a negative correlation exists between
tensile strength and printing speed and model height. From the results of this study, it was concluded that 3D printing
parameters have an effect on the properties of the structures.
